On Saturday 9th February a friend and I took the Wairarapa train to Featherston where we expected to get a bus that would take us to Martinborough. We wanted to spend the day strolling around the shops, tasting local wines and enjoying a leisurely lunch before returning to Wellington in the evening. It was thanks to the Martinborough Information Centre and Hunters Transport that our wish, along with those of about 23 others, came true that day.
Had it not been for these fast-acting supporters of Martinborough Tourism, we would have been stranded in Featherston, for when the train arrived, 15 minutes late, the bus we expected to meet had departed.
Fair go, you say? Not so. The lateness of the train was not our fault, it was caused by a delayed departure from Wellington due to the lack of an engine! The conductor had assured several of the passengers who were concerned about the train’s delay that the bus company had been contacted would remain to pick up the passengers.
However, when we arrived at Featherston the station was unattended, and there was no bus waiting for us. We were among 25 stranded passengers who had planned to get to Martinborough for wine tours and strolling about. The majority of the people were tourists to the area, including ten international tourists. They had no idea even how far Martinborough was, thinking perhaps they might walk.
There was a bus sitting across the road at the pub but the driver was bound to a stag party. Another bus drove up with only a few passengers, we cheered, but soon groaned because they were off to Masterton.
In the end one of the stranded used their mobile phone to call the Martinborough Information Centre, talking to Hillary, who responded by organising a bus for us, which arrived in 20 minutes. We filled the bus and were relieved to only have to pay the same fare as we would have normally. We finally arrived in Martinborough 1 hour and 15 minutes after arriving at Featherston.
What is the problem? This was a wine tour day in Martinborough, most of the stranded passengers had travelled there this day to be part of that. Martinborough didn’t let us down, MetLink and Tranzit did. Transport operators should remind themselves that they are in the business of transport and ensure that links like this aren’t broken?
The only reliable thing here is that the trains often run late.
