What is the issue?
New Zealand's passenger rail network is under continued threat. Ancient trains, expensive fares, poor frequency and decades of under-investment have decimated our national passenger rail network. Passenger trains used to cross the landscape and connect our country. The system is now a shadow of its former self, yet people want real public transport options.
Recent examples system decay include:
These attacks come at a time when the Government has said it is committed to climate action and reducing inequality.
Recent examples system decay include:
- An attempt in late 2021 to replace scheduled Northern Explorer (Auckland-Wellington) & Coastal Pacific (Picton - Christchurch) services with tourist excursion trains. This decision was reversed following a public campaign to #SaveOurTrains.
- The fight to keep the Capital Connection between Wellington and Palmerston North due to persistent breakdowns, old equipment, and a lack of government investment in new rolling stock.
- The politicization of Te Huia regional train service between Auckland and Hamilton and rejection of funding for increased frequency.
These attacks come at a time when the Government has said it is committed to climate action and reducing inequality.
What Are We Trying To Achieve?
We are asking for a comprehensive national strategy for inter-regional passenger rail services built around concerns for climate action, accessibility, affordability and economic development. Some specific goals of the campaign include:
- More routes. Trains connected Napier and Hastings to Wellington, and Tauranga and Rotorua to Auckland until 2002. In the South Island, The Southerner connected Invercargill and Dunedin to Christchurch. A night train ran up the North Island until 2004. We need to look at returning these routes and new ones too.
- More stops. Numerous towns have been cut from the rail network over the last two decades. Towns like Feilding, Taihape, Te Kuiti, and Amberley have stations, but no trains to service them.
- Better frequency. People travel for all sorts of reasons. Better frequency means more train services at times that suit more people.
- Faster trains. Our inter regional trains are past their prime. An investment in new rolling stock means faster speeds and a more comfortable journey.
- Affordable fares. Existing inter regional are priced for tourists. A standard Auckland to Wellington fare can set you back $220. If we are to get people out of cars and on to trains, affordable fares are essential.
- Integrated transport. A train isn't that useful if you can't get to and from the station. We need better integration with bus services and active transport like bikes and walking. Many stations need refurbishment too.
- Electrification. Electric trains reduce emissions twofold. A single train could take hundreds of cars off the roads, but the positive climate impact is maximised if the train is powered by electricity.
- Regulatory and legislative reform. Our passenger rail system was designed to fail. The policy instruments that facilitated that failure remain intact. We need to reform the regulatory environment to encourage central and local government to work together to give New Zealanders public transport options.
Why is this important?
Trains connect communities and are an important part of climate change action.
Trains have connected friends and families for graduations, weddings, holidays, and business for generations. They have connected towns with the cities, and bought our country together.
But a period of privatisation and decades of underfunding has limited the development and use of our national rail network.
Trains have an important place in our future but require investment and planning from Government. Here are some reasons why:
Rail is an important part of our past, but it should also be part of our future. Join the campaign to support the retention and growth of a national passenger rail network.
Trains have connected friends and families for graduations, weddings, holidays, and business for generations. They have connected towns with the cities, and bought our country together.
But a period of privatisation and decades of underfunding has limited the development and use of our national rail network.
Trains have an important place in our future but require investment and planning from Government. Here are some reasons why:
- Rail provides a more sustainable and climate friendly method of transport across the country.
- Rail can invigorate the social and economic life of small communities by making them accessible to remote workers and tourists.
- Trains can bring our diverse country together by connecting them to people and landscapes across wide distances.
- Trains provide an accessible method of point-to-point transport for the elderly, disabled people, and people without cars.
- With the right Government support trains can provide affordable transport for people on low-income.
- Less cars on the roads can help to make our roads safer.
- Interregional trains provide easy domestic vacation options, lessening the need to travel overseas for holidays.
Rail is an important part of our past, but it should also be part of our future. Join the campaign to support the retention and growth of a national passenger rail network.
What You Can Do?
Here are some ways we can work together to save our national rail network...and build a better one.
- Vote for local body and general election candidates that support public transport and climate action.
- Sign the petition to the Minister of Transport, and KiwiRail and share the petition through your network.
- Talk to your local MP, Mayor, or Councillor.
- Join a local group to connect with others and lobby for our national passenger rail services.
- Share your stories and photographs of rail experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand by social media. Use the hashtag #TheFutureIsRail or #SaveOurTrains
- Follow us on social media.