Capital Connection Under Threat

[luke.xensen]

There's a story in the Manawatu Standard today about the Capital Connection being at risk when the electrification to Waikanae is complete.
See http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standar ... n-jeopardy
Also the editorial is about the story as well, and a Facebook group has of course been set up.
Seems to be a strong local feeling here for the service, and a desire to see some more services. This could be something for CBT to campaign on and raise there profile around here. Are there any other Palmerston North/Levin based people around?

[Rail-it]

Gee, I wonder if it is in the back of there minds, that this would be a fast replacement for the overlander?

[luke.xensen]

does the moderator want to merge this thread into the main Capital Connection thread?

[Jonthekiwi]

As KiwiRail say, this is still years off before any decision is made and only 20% of the pax come from Waikanae and Parapararimu. It seems premature to do anything yet, but closure to the time IF KiwiRail decided to end the service then that is a different question, and one I believe CBT would be against.

[PTNZ]

Does anyone have the figure for the percentage of the total passenger load that Palmerston North contributes to the route?

[john-ston]

Does anyone have the figure for the percentage of the total passenger load that Palmerston North contributes to the route?

IIRC, it is about half a carriage load. The vast majority of the traffic is from Levin, Otaki and Waikanae.

[MrRobot]

I recall somewhere/someone saying that the Capital Connection was originally intended for Levin, but due to operational reasons was made to go to/from Palmerston North. I hope the train has a secure future and they don't end up getting rid of it or changing it to a shuttle service.

[Rail-it]

Does anyone have the figure for the percentage of the total passenger load that Palmerston North contributes to the route?

IIRC, it is about half a carriage load. The vast majority of the traffic is from Levin, Otaki and Waikanae.

I'd be concerned about it's future if that is the average loading. That's not even a full bus load.

[john-ston]

I'd be concerned about it's future if that is the average loading. That's not even a full bus load.

That is only the loading from Palmerston North though. Bear in mind also that Palmerston North is the next place after Wellington with the sort of facilities that are necessary for such a service; so the Capital Connection would have to continue to have a Palmerston North terminus for the foreseeable future.

I would personally be keen for there to be two additional services as far as Levin, perhaps using RM30, with a mid morning and mid afternoon run.

[Rail-it]

I'd be concerned about it's future if that is the average loading. That's not even a full bus load.

That is only the loading from Palmerston North though. Bear in mind also that Palmerston North is the next place after Wellington with the sort of facilities that are necessary for such a service; so the Capital Connection would have to continue to have a Palmerston North terminus for the foreseeable future.

I would personally be keen for there to be two additional services as far as Levin, perhaps using RM30, with a mid morning and mid afternoon run.

Yes, I was aware of that. It's not a quick trip from palmy to levin. If they want to make it's future certain, then it needs to be patronised well. Palmy is a city, and half a carriage is not much, especially when suburban services are soon to begin in Waikanae, and is where the capital connection is gaining the majority of it's passengers. Personally, if it's under 100 persons from Palmy to Waikanae, then the silver fern is a cheaper more viable option, not to mention a faster timetable. Otherwise the purpose of electrification begins to look defeated when a diesel hauled passenger train with eight passenger cars is carrying Waikanae to Wellington passengers.

[Jen]

Iain Lees-Galloway (MP for Palmerston North) has set up a facebook group, Save the Capital Connection to gather support for ensuring continuity of the service. At last count there were 632 supporters. Anyone on facebook would be welcomed to join the group.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=254767851856

[luke96241]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4906060/Trains-future-looks-brighter

Train's future looks brighter
JIMMY ELLINGHAM 19/04/2011

The cloud over the future of the Capital Connection train could be starting to lift, with operator KiwiRail saying it has been "largely unaffected" by extended Wellington metro services.

It was feared more regular services between Wellington and Waikanae could take passengers away from the Capital Connection, which runs from Palmerston North to Wellington.

Government-owned KiwiRail put the Capital Connection on trial for six months to see what effect the metro services would have on passenger trends.

Almost two months into the trial period, the signs for the Palmerston North to Wellington train seem encouraging.

While KiwiRail would not say what sort of profit it made on the service or how many passengers were required for it to make money, passenger general manager Deborah Hume said it was not concerned about the impact extended metro services were having at this stage.

It was too early to make any long-term decisions, she said.

"So far, the evening Capital Connection train looks to be largely unaffected.

"Numbers are steady since January at almost all stations, including Waikanae, and we have seen some growth in passengers travelling to Palmerston North.

"The morning train into Wellington did see a dip in passengers from Waikanae the week metro services reached there, but has since shown a rebound and other stations are showing little change."

KiwiRail would not provide passenger figures. Ms Hume said there were daily and weekly fluctuations in passenger numbers, so long-term trends would not become apparent for some time.

Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway, who has led the push to keep the train, welcomed KiwiRail's comments, although it was not yet time to "pop the champagne corks".

"It has certainly been very important to make sure that councils and central government and KiwiRail know how much the service is valued.

"Obviously we're not quite out of the woods yet but we can all feel very positive about the way the numbers are looking at the moment."

It was also time to start thinking about increasing the frequency of rail services between Palmerston North and Waikanae, although keeping the Capital Connection remained the first priority, he said.

"KiwiRail have obviously heard loud and clear from Palmerston North residents in particular just how important the service is."

Horizons Regional Council has not yet made a final decision on whether to give money to keep the Capital Connection.

Otaki commuter Frank Neill, who travels to Wellington every day, said he had noticed more people using the service in the past couple of weeks, with people standing at times.

- The Dominion Post

[Matt L]

I believe there were quite a number on there that were saying it wouldn't be that affected

[Johnny T]

Good news indeed.

[Riccardo]

I am so pleased about this - I will be popping the champaign corks. Did this run last year, enjoyed it thoroughly. A credit to NZ. I'd like to imagine this train will 'fly the flag' for keeping interest in rail transport for people north of Waikanae and the eventual extension of the wire.

[john-ston]

Given the success of the extension to Waikanae, I wonder how long it will be before we see EMUs doing regular runs to Otaki? Heck, if the Capital Connection is doing better than it used to do, then I wonder if we should be pushing for the Ferns to do a supplementary run to Levin in the peak.

[keg]

Given the success of the extension to Waikanae, I wonder how long it will be before we see EMUs doing regular runs to Otaki?

All the cross sections in the recent Peka Peka - Otaki Expressway consultation document featured a Matangi EMU on the railway line. A semi-secret pro-rail plot by the NZTA or just a bit of 'PT wash'?

[geoff_184]

Given the success of the extension to Waikanae, I wonder how long it will be before we see EMUs doing regular runs to Otaki? Heck, if the Capital Connection is doing better than it used to do, then I wonder if we should be pushing for the Ferns to do a supplementary run to Levin in the peak.

In 2007 Ontrack offered to extend the wires to Otaki for just $15m extra, on top of the $600m approved for Waikanae and the new trains. Obviously GWRC didn't accept the offer, but I wonder if in hindsight they now regret not doing so? Seems to me to be a missed opportunity. The cost looks very reasonable.

[john-ston]

In 2007 Ontrack offered to extend the wires to Otaki for just $15m extra, on top of the $600m approved for Waikanae and the new trains. Obviously GWRC didn't accept the offer, but I wonder if in hindsight they now regret not doing so? Seems to me to be a missed opportunity. The cost looks very reasonable.

I can understand why the Greater Wellington Regional Council decided not to extend electrification - I don't imagine that Otaki would have provided enough passengers in the short term to justify it, even with the $15 million cost of stringing up the wires.

[Rail-it]

In 2007 Ontrack offered to extend the wires to Otaki for just $15m extra, on top of the $600m approved for Waikanae and the new trains. Obviously GWRC didn't accept the offer, but I wonder if in hindsight they now regret not doing so? Seems to me to be a missed opportunity. The cost looks very reasonable.

I can understand why the Greater Wellington Regional Council decided not to extend electrification - I don't imagine that Otaki would have provided enough passengers in the short term to justify it, even with the $15 million cost of stringing up the wires.

So you definitely would not have been in approval of spending the $600m for the extension to Waikanae then?