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.
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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. 

Save Our Trains media release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday 8 March 2022

Advocates for passenger rail are questioning why services have been dumped while KiwiRail posts healthy and rising surpluses.

KiwiRail is aiming for an operating surplus of up to $162 million for the full year to June, representing a big jump from the previous year.

Yet the state owned enterprise announced in December 2021 it was withdrawing same day scheduled passenger services on both islands. 

Save Our Trains spokesperson Dr Paul Callister says there is a severe disconnect between the goals of Government to reduce emissions and the operations of state-owned enterprises such as KiwiRail.

Dr Callister says passenger rail is in danger of becoming a lost opportunity in the urgent process of decarbonising transport.

He says issues like dumping passenger services are filed away as operational issues for KiwiRail, but need to be policy issues that the Government delivers on.

“Passenger rail is not about profit, it’s about providing regular and reliable services that move people off cars and planes, and providing choices for the travelling public.”

Dr Callister says upgrades to our national rail network will benefit passengers as well as freight rail transport and is a basic infrastructure requirement for a modern society.

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 accessibility, 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

ENDS

Media Contacts:
Victor Billot
victor@allrailways.co.nz
022 479 1786

Patrick Rooney
patrick@allrailways.co.nz
06 880 0234 or 022 154 9119