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
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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 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
Hon. Michael Wood Minister of Transport Parliament Buildings Wellington Dear Hon. Michael Wood We are writing about the ‘Decarbonising the Transport System’ online conference the Ministry of Transport is organising on March 1. While we welcome the attention given to this important subject, we are concerned that the rail sector is not represented at the conference. Transport comprises 21% of New Zealand’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, the second largest source, and has been New Zealand’s fastest growing source of emissions over that last 30 years. We believe rail transport is part of the solution and should be given a voice at the table. Amongst the line-up of keynote speakers are representatives for the land transport lobby, farmers, and car manufacturers. A spokesperson for rail is not included on the agenda. Rail plays an important role in getting people out of cars and onto public transport across the world. Long distance passenger rail between towns and cities is a key part of decarbonising transport overseas. There are passenger rail revival projects in California, Illinois, Texas and Florida, places traditionally associated with cars. 2021 was the year of rail in Europe with the expansion of fast rail and night trains. In 2021, it was announced that the Northern Explorer service between Auckland and Wellington and the Coastal Pacific between Picton and Christchurch would be suspended indefinitely. New Zealand is now the only significant advanced economy in the world without passenger rail linking our major cities. In addition, New Zealand does not have any night trains in service. Rail also plays a significant role in low emissions freight transport. The lack of a keynote speaker representing rail is a further indication of the low prioritisation the Government gives the sector, as well as a lack of recognition of rail’s key role in decarbonising transport. We call on the Ministry of Transport to include a keynote speaker from the rail sector. Best regards, Paul Callister & Patrick Rooney On Behalf of the #SaveOurTrains Campaign* cc. Hon. James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change Mr Peter Mersi, CEO, Ministry of Transport -- *The Save Our Trains campaign was started in late January by members of the public who were concerned by KiwiRail’s announcement in December to withdraw same day scheduled passenger services on both islands. The petition to Save Our National Passenger Rail Network can be found at: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/p/saveourtrains |
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