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
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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 media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 16 February 2022 Save The Trains Campaign welcomes KiwiRail’s decision to include a daily Auckland-Wellington service in an upcoming market research survey. But campaigners say New Zealand is still a long way off seeing long distance passenger trains return to the tracks. 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. KiwiRail today sent an email to subscribers raising the possibility of a daily Auckland-Wellington passenger train in addition to multi-day tours and guided tours and packages. KiwiRail plans to send a short questionnaire to everyone who has signed up on their website. Save The Trains Spokesperson Paul Callister says: “Let’s be clear, KiwiRail is merely adding a question to a survey, not promising to return passenger trains to our tracks.” Mr Callister says this is still a sign KiwiRail is reacting to public blowback against their decision, with 5200 people signing the Save Our Trains petition. He says KiwiRail does not currently have enough trains available to offer all the services mentioned in their bulletin. Mr Callister says it now comes down to a battle between tourist-specific services or broader passenger focused services. “We’ll continue to campaign for the return of national passenger rail services for all users”, says Mr Callister. He says the campaign’s other demands are that future passenger rail services are built around concerns for accessibility, regional economic development, and climate action. The Coastal Pacific service in the South Island was not mentioned in the statement by KiwiRail. 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 06 880 0234 or 022 154 9119
The recent announcement by KiwiRail that the Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific services will be replaced with multi-day experiences from July 2022 has been greeted by concern from the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT).
The proposal, dubbed “Project Restart ‘22” would mean the end of regular passenger service on both the Auckland to Wellington and Picton to Christchurch and marks just the latest stage in the decline of what was once an extensive passenger rail service which serviced most of New Zealand. The CBT urges the government to consider a funding package that would enable the continuation of both the Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific services as daily passenger services able to be used by passengers to get around the various towns and cities along the Auckland to Wellington and Picton to Christchurch corridors. View: Campaign for Better Transport Concerned About Project Restart ‘22 – The Campaign For Better Transport After running for nearly 100 years between Auckland and Wellington train services have been canceled by KiwiRail. Read more at: Urgent calls for long-distance passenger services to stay as KiwiRail cuts operations | Newshub
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