Save Our Trains Media Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18 May 2023 Save Our Trains Campaign says the budget offers glimmers of hope for some regions but leaves most of New Zealand stranded when it comes to passenger rail. Save Our Trains Spokesperson Suraya Sidhu Singh says “the climate crisis requires politicians of all stripes to exercise leadership. More must be done to deliver real transport choice to New Zealanders.” She said 18 new hybrid trains confirmed for the Lower North Island and funding for a business case into electrifying the Golden Triangle and North Island Main Trunk line should be celebrated. They will connect people, reduce carbon emissions, and help support planned population growth. However, the funding for these business cases will only hit their full amount in 2026. "With work already underway electrifying Papakura to Pukekohe it makes sense to bring funding forward to make the most of the existing workforce. We're already feeling the extreme weather events of the climate crisis – we cannot afford to delay sustainable transport options any longer." In addition, the electrification business cases must look beyond freight and explicitly explore opportunities for increased, affordable passenger rail along the Main Trunk line and between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. Save Our Trains Spokesperson Lindsey Horne says the Golden Triangle of Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty, where 40% of Aotearoa's population lives, is an obvious choice for enabling passenger services. "Funding a business case into electrifying the Auckland to Tauranga route is a start, but it’s a long way from a study to having trains on tracks. If we are serious about reducing carbon emissions we need action and we need it now. We can't have our climate policy looking like smoke and mirrors. We need to give people real transport choices.” While investment in passenger rail announced in the budget will help people in some regions, support for public transport in other regions is noticeably absent. "Little is being done to connect other cities and encourage mode shift in the regions" says Ms Singh of Taranaki. The Save Our Trains campaign was founded in late January 2022 by members of the public concerned about threats to passenger rail services throughout New Zealand. ENDS Media contacts: Suraya Sidhu Singh; Mobile 021 102 4173 Lindsey Horne; Mobile 027 427 3934 info@allrailways.co.nz
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Save Our Trains Campaign says the launch of an inquiry into the future of inter-regional passenger rail in New Zealand by the Transport and Infrastructure Committee offers a chance to reset decades of decline in our rail system.
Save Our Trains spokesperson, Dr Paul Callister, says “Inter regional passenger rail services have been run into the ground through decades of deliberate decline and bias towards road and air transport. This inquiry offers an eleventh-hour chance to reverse the decline of our rail network and replace our rusting rolling stock.” Dr Callister says ongoing issues with the ageing and increasingly unreliable Wellington to Palmerston North Capital Connection and near termination of the Auckland to Wellington Northern Explorer passenger service are recent “real life examples” of our failure to develop a rail network to meet the needs of New Zealand’s future. The Budget in May 2022 omitted funding for a fleet of hybrid electric trains in the lower North Island, proposed by regional councils. KiwiRail suspended long-distance passenger services in 2021, later reversing that decision in 2022 following a public campaign to save our trains. Reinstated services were accompanied by significant fare increases. It is no longer a service New Zealand families can afford. Save Our Trains spokesperson, Suraya Sidhu Singh, said “most New Zealanders live in regions that are poorly served by public transport, yet with investment our existing rail network could connect millions of people. There is an opportunity to invest in rail to connect our regional communities and impact climate change goals.” Suraya Sidhu Singh says this inquiry offers an opportunity for various agencies to better align transport, climate, and economic development policies and have real impact for future generations of passengers. The Save Our Trains campaign was started in late January by concerned members of the public focused on maintaining and developing passenger rail services. Media Contacts: Victor Billot victor@allrailways.co.nz 022 479 1786 Save Our Trains Campaign says return of key passenger services a major win for travelling public, and the first stop on the journey to rebuild passenger rail throughout New Zealand.
KiwiRail announced today the Northern Explorer (Auckland–Wellington) and Coastal Pacific (Picton–Christchurch) services will return to the tracks in September 2022, will take domestic point-to-point passengers, and will run to their pre-2021 schedules. Save Our Trains spokesperson Dr Paul Callister says the first goal of our #SaveOurTrains campaign has been achieved – maintaining existing inter-city passenger rail services. He thanked the many New Zealanders who had signed the Save Our Trains petition and supported the campaign. Dr Callister says the campaign will be approaching KiwiRail for more information about the accessibility and affordability of the restored services to passengers. “It is important that fares are aimed at a price point affordable to everyday New Zealanders, and this is used as an opportunity to ensure access for those living in the regional communities.” Dr Callister says today is a celebration, but there is a lot to do long term. “The next step is to develop our public transport services. That requires the Government to take a leadership role in planning for an integrated public transport network across New Zealand, taking into account accessibility, climate action, and regional development.” The Save Our Trains campaign was started in late January by concerned members of the public after KiwiRail’s announcement in December 2021 it was removing same day scheduled passenger services throughout New Zealand. Over 8000 people have signed the Save Our Trains petition. The petition to Save Our National Passenger Rail Network reads: We call on the Government and KiwiRail to commit to maintaining existing intercity passenger rail services. Furthermore, we ask for a comprehensive national strategy for future passenger rail services built around concern for climate action and economic development. The petition to Save Our National Passenger Rail Network can be found at: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/p/saveourtrains Media Contacts: Victor Billot victor@allrailways.co.nz 022 479 1786 Patrick Rooney patrick@allrailways.co.nz 022 154 9119 RNZ Morning Report says that our campaign demanding a reliable train service between the regions is gaining steam. They say the Climate Change Commission has called for more public transport as the country grapples with the urgent need to reduce emissions, but after decades of decline, long distance commuter trains are in a precarious state.
Listen to interview at: Campaign to bolster inter-regional train services gains steam | RNZ Save Our Trains Campaign says support needs to be given to climate friendly transport options. Save Our Trains Spokesperson Paul Callister says the recapitalization of Air New Zealand includes a major investment by the Government, which is the majority shareholder in the airline. “At the same time, the Government describes the disappearance of climate friendly long distance passenger rail as an operational matter for KiwiRail.” He says trains already have a very low carbon footprint, but there is no clear decarbonisation pathway for airlines. Dr Callister says if the Government is serious about meeting climate goals and reducing emissions, it has to start taking intercity passenger rail seriously as a policy issue. The Save Our Trains campaign was started in late January by concerned members of the public after KiwiRail’s announcement in December 2021 it was pulling same day scheduled passenger services throughout New Zealand. Dr Callister says the campaign’s other demands are that future passenger rail services are built around concerns for affordability, accessibility, and regional economic development. He says over 7600 people have signed the Save Our Trains petition. The petition to Save Our National Passenger Rail Network reads: We call on the Government and KiwiRail to commit to maintaining existing intercity passenger rail services. Furthermore, we ask for a comprehensive national strategy for future passenger rail services built around concern for climate action and economic development. The petition to Save Our National Passenger Rail Network can be found at: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/p/saveourtrains
While there are plans to expand airports, railways have been dismantled – so how will the country decarbonise domestic travel?
Robert McLachlan is a professor in applied mathematics at Massey University. In this piece for The Guardian, he outlines the challenges New Zealand faces when it comes to decarbonising transport, and why passenger trains should be part of the solution. Read the full article here: Planes, trains and the climate crisis – why New Zealand shouldn’t be closing its railways | Robert McLachlan | The Guardian In this piece for Greater Auckland, Paul Callister highlights the dire state of regional public transport in New Zealand and offers a pathway for change. While what happens in our largest cities is obviously important, solutions for decarbonisation, safety and the provision of affordable options for all members of society to stay connected are vital for all of New Zealand’s communities, whether large or small. New Zealand’s small, and not so small, communities have been left behind. Read the full article at: Regional Public Transport - Greater Auckland
Jess Berentson Shaw discusses the things we should be improving – cycling, public and shared transport, walking and urban design. Number 8 is more trains to more places. "Restarting our passenger services between towns is a must for the climate", says Jess.
Read the full article at: 17 Ways to Get About Without Using Fossil Fuels | Newsroom New Zealand is at a junction when it comes to inter-regional public transport and passenger rail. Will it continue its recent path of almost entirely focusing investment on urban passenger rail in the Auckland and Wellington regions? Or is there room to expand planning to include passenger rail reconnecting regions to the main urban areas and extending into New Zealand’s Heartland as a national network? This comes down to the question as to what sort of country we want New Zealand to be? At stake are questions of social equity, national connectivity, transport accessibility, meeting climate change commitments, improved transport safety, regional rejuvenation, affordable housing access, and even national pride as one joined up nation. Read this excellent piece by Michael Van Drogenbroek published in the March Issue of Logistics & Transport New Zealand. |
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