Homes and apartments within easy walking distance of a train station attract a premium.
New Zealand punches above its weight in many areas, but we all know public transport is not one of them. Our largest centres are congested and underserved by rail – unlike Sydney, New York, and London. In those cities, the trains make travel to any corner of the city accessible and speedy – even if dodgy black stuff does come out of your nose the next time you sneeze. In New Zealand, train-side suburbs have always been relatively affordable because of their distance from the CBD, lack of amenities, and the disturbance factor.