The new Avondale Train Station (officially) opens ...

... but not yet for passengers. Just invited guests yesterday, at a wee shindig courtesy of ARTA (Auckland Regional Transport Authority). Some songs from Avondale Primary School pupils were heard, we listened to speeches, drank coffees and teas, then got the heck off that cold, windy eastbound platform and into the snacks and nibbles (and tomato soup!) put on by ARTA at the school hall just down the road.

I must put in a WARNING here, for any readers who have concerns about images of spiders -- there is a spider image towards the end of this post. The spider being an icon of my home township, such couldn't be avoided, sorry.

Righto ...

The marquees go up on the platform, caterers move around to set up chairs, coffee/tea urns, sound systems etc. ...

... all on what has to be just about the narrowest space for any opening I've ever been to. There was good reason for the red safety barriers to keep us clear of the rails. If the drop didn't get you, the next train would.

This sort of thing fascinates me -- how they get cloths up for unveiling. In this case, a large black cloth (completed with red ribbon and bow) over the Avondale sign on the platform. Step one: get a helpful contractor to go up on the metal fence, and balance thereon, waiting helpfully to pull up the cloth from hands below.

There ya go ...

Almost there ...

The finished work, just before Mayor of Auckland City John Banks (that's him with his back to the camera) cuts the ribbon.

The bloke in front is Rabin Rabindran, chairman of the ARTA Board. John Banks at right.

The cutting ...

The pulling ...

More pulling ...

There you are! All done. They then had some of the children let off air horns, I suppose to represent trains (although one person there said it represented the sound of train horns keeping local residents awake at night ...)

Just to show you how narrow and tight the ceremonial space was -- here's one shot ...

Another with oncoming train for effect ... (at right, Chairman of Avondale Community Board Duncan Macdonald, and Councillor Noelene Raffills).

Yes, rather noisy for speeches ...

But all taken in good heart.

A special cake for the occasion was prepared (no, I don't know what it tasted like, I was more interested in the mini quiches).

The photo used on the icing is of the temporary station at Trent-Tait Streets which will be replaced by the new station we shivered on yesterday -- from next Monday (the 14th). My thanks to the Avondale Business Association for passing on word, and an invitation, to yesterday's event.

More on the event via the NZ Herald today.