The Future Is Rail spokesperson Lindsey Horne is
“thrilled that several parties have jumped on board to
promote passenger rail as a way forward for New
Zealand”.
“Recent high-profile passenger rail
activities, like the CRL opening in Auckland, the sell-out
Auckland–Hamilton–Tauranga Kaimai Express trip and
Dunedin–Christchurch Mainlander passenger trains, large
passenger rail petitions in the South Island and Taranaki,
and the purchase of new trains for Wairarapa and Palmerston
North to Wellington services, all go to prove that rail is
on a roll and is very popular with the public.
“This
is also an ‘electric’ election, with new technologies
such as battery-electric trains coming on track. These give
significant opportunities to further electrify our rail
network in a cost-effective way, reducing our dependency on
imported fuels and lowering the cost of living for Kiwi
families.”
“Given that parties from both sides of
the political fence are supporting rail, we expect that, no
matter what the outcome of the election is, these
commitments mean that passenger rail will be on the agenda
for the coming coalition talks.”
“We have analysed
the different parties’ rail policies and statements, and
see significant cross-party support for passenger rail,
which bodes well for speedy post-election passenger rail
developments,” Ms Horne said.
The Future Is Rail
listed key passenger rail policy points made by different
parties:
NZ First: The continuation
of, and new trains for, Te Huia and its extension to
Tauranga; the re-establishment of The Southerner from
Christchurch to Invercargill; a commuter rail trial in
Christchurch; further investment in rail infrastructure like
the Kaimai Tunnel; and consideration of Tauranga commuter
rail. The party has worked with local advocates to support
The Southerner. In government, it supported Auckland’s
CRL, Te Huia’s establishment and the purchase of new
trains for the lower North Island.
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The
Greens: The continuation of Te Huia and its
extension to Tauranga, and ultimately electrification of the
line; the re-establishment of, and new trains for, The
Southerner from Christchurch to Dunedin and eventually
Invercargill; night trains from Auckland to Wellington;
further investment in rail infrastructure; and consideration
of Tauranga commuter rail. The party has worked with local
advocates to support The Southerner and Te
Huia.
Opportunity: ‘In principle’
support for Te Huia, The Southerner and other passenger rail
initiatives, but with final decisions to be left to the
Infrastructure Commission, working with KiwiRail; and a $1
billion capital investment in rail to shift the country from
car dependency.
Labour: Support for
the continuation of Te Huia and its extension to Tauranga; a
commitment to work with councils, KiwiRail and other
operators on other services like The Southerner; and
consideration of Tauranga commuter rail. The party has
worked with local advocates to support The Southerner and Te
Huia. In government, it supported Auckland’s CRL, Te
Huia’s establishment and the purchase of new trains for
the lower North Island.
National: No
formal response. National MPs from Waikato and the Bay of
Plenty have publicly shown their support for both Te Huia
and its extension to Tauranga. In government, the party
supported Auckland’s CRL, Te Huia’s trial extension and
the purchase of new trains for the lower North
Island.
ACT: No formal
response.
Te Pāti Māori: No formal
response.
