Support grows for Waikato Rail

[Jonthekiwi]

From : CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER TRANSPORT

Press Release
Wednesday June 24, 2009

Support Builds for Waikato Rail


Support for a Waikato to Auckland commuter train service is gathering momentum after last night’s public meeting held in Hamilton by the transport lobby group Campaign For Better Transport.

Spokesperson Jon Reeves told the audience of about 60 residents and business people that the business case for a rail link to Auckland stacks up well economically.

“For every $1 invested in the service, the region will receive $1.90 in benefits through reduced traffic congestion, increased transport options and increased productivity of business commuters”.

WISE Group CEO Jacqui Graham spoke in support of the proposed train services, explaining that in a typical day 33 hours of productive time can be lost as staff travel to and from Auckland from their Hamilton Head Office. Graham said WISE Group would commit to buying annual corporate tickets for staff. Another businessman in the audience said his company would also use the service daily.

In spite of strong support from the audience, however, Environment Waikato refuses to fund the service.

Cr. Norm Barker representing Environment Waikato basically said they were conscious of rates, so they do not want to support the rail service financially.

In response, Hamilton City Councillor Dave MacPherson said that was quite a ridiculous position to take, as the costs to ratepayers along the route the train will service is equal to about 6 to $7 a year (approx 55 cents a month) compared to $415 ratepayers in Hamilton will pay for roads in the coming year.

Cr. MacPherson told the audience that as Environment Waikato are not committed to the relatively small amount of funding required to run the train service, his council is talking directly with KiwiRail about a trial service.

Jon Reeves said “It is great to get support for trains from local councils including Waipa and Waikato District Council, along with Hamilton City Council. Environment Waikato is now the only council not ready move by committing funds to get the train service underway immediately. Even the Auckland Regional Council is supportive of Hamilton Rail.”

The strong support by Waikato residents and businesses was reflected by attendees joining Campaign for Better Transport on the spot and offering other resources.

CBT will now launch the next phase of this campaign for Waikato Commuter Trains with the support of the new Hamilton members. Jon Reeves says “we have run some very well received and high profile campaigns which turned into action. We will do the same for the Waikato trains until EW wake up, read the business report they commissioned, listen to the residents and businesses and launch the trains.”

Press Release Ends.

FACTS:
Waikato Commuter Trains From EW Business Case Study released May 2009.
- Double return railcar service to and from Auckland would require EW funding of approx $542,000 per annum after fare collection and NZTA subsidy.
- A single return service to and from Auckland would require EW funding of approx $456,000 per annum after fare collection and NZTA subsidy.
- Ratepayers contribution equal to approximately $7 per annum or 55 cents a month.
- Suggested fares: $24 from Hamilton, $17.60 from Huntly to Auckland.
- Central seat load factor in start up phase of 75%.
- Train service to use KiwiRail Silver Fern railcars with 96 seats each, kitchen facilities, toilets and air-conditioning.
- Departure could be from disused Hamilton Central underground station to
Britomart station.
- Service proposed to stop at Papatoetoe to allow quick transfer to regular direct Auckland Airport buses, or direct to Manukau shopping centre.
- Fare revenue will rise as forecast demand increases.
- Adding stops at “The Base” in Hamilton North and Te Kauwhata will increase the cost benefit ratios over 2 (for every $1 invested $2 in benefits received).

Campaign For Better Transport – Waikato Commuter Trains NOW!
Contact: Jon Reeves 021 535 295

Hamilton City Council
Contact: Cr. Dave MacPherson 021 477 388

[nzqf182]

- Double return railcar service to and from Auckland would require EW funding of approx $542,000 per annum after fare collection and NZTA subsidy.

Does this mean double daily or twin sets running at once?

[Jonthekiwi]

One railcar doing two rotations.

[nzqf182]

One railcar doing two rotations.

Cheers Thanks

Has there been any talk of the offered timeslot?

[Jonthekiwi]

First you show the money. Then things fall into place.

[geoff_184]

Has anyone considered talking to the various international airlines about considering making Hamilton to Sydney/LA/London/Anywheresville fares available, using the railcar as part of the single fare? There would be potential to fill the railcar quite quickly.

[john-ston]

Has anyone considered talking to the various international airlines about considering making Hamilton to Sydney/LA/London/Anywheresville fares available, using the railcar as part of the single fare? There would be potential to fill the railcar quite quickly.

That would be something I would agree with; the question is who would do it? Air New Zealand wouldn't because they have their cute little thrice daily run between Hamilton and Auckland using a Beech; I am not 100% sure if QANTAS would do it because they might eventually want Jetstar running from Hamilton; Pacific Blue certainly wouldn't. That essentially leaves us with the rats and mice airlines (Emirates, Royal Brunei, Aerolineas Argentinas and Lan Chile), and aside from Emirates, they don't even fly daily from Auckland.

Of course, if you got something like that organised, it would certainly make my suggested two hourly schedule viable

[geoff_184]

And an airport line from Wiri

[kaiwhara]

Those Beech 1900D flights from Hamilton to Auckland, while catering for transfers, ar primarily flown for positioning purposes, as Eagle Airways Mainatance Base is at Hamilton, while only a handful of Eagle Airways flights actually fly to Hamilton - that being the domain of Mount Cook Airlines and Air Nelson...

That would be something I would agree with; the question is who would do it? Air New Zealand wouldn't because they have their cute little thrice daily run between Hamilton and Auckland using a Beech; I am not 100% sure if QANTAS would do it because they might eventually want Jetstar running from Hamilton; Pacific Blue certainly wouldn't. That essentially leaves us with the rats and mice airlines (Emirates, Royal Brunei, Aerolineas Argentinas and Lan Chile), and aside from Emirates, they don't even fly daily from Auckland.

Of course, if you got something like that organised, it would certainly make my suggested two hourly schedule viable

[eurokiwi78]

Surely a train between Hamilton and auckland would be more practical than such a short haul flight, unless one was actually travelling airport to airport. Even people travelling from their Hamilton home or business to auckland airport would find travelling the wrong way to hamilton airport (in the south) silly.

[john-ston]

Surely a train between Hamilton and auckland would be more practical than such a short haul flight, unless one was actually travelling airport to airport. Even people travelling from their Hamilton home or business to auckland airport would find travelling the wrong way to hamilton airport (in the south) silly.

I would agree with you there; if you had a decent frequency all day, and decent connections, then it would be very practical. The only thing is that you would need a 2am service to cater for the early morning flights, and you would probably need to stretch your timetable out somewhat - that could result in overuse of the Ferns.

Those Beech 1900D flights from Hamilton to Auckland, while catering for transfers, ar primarily flown for positioning purposes, as Eagle Airways Mainatance Base is at Hamilton, while only a handful of Eagle Airways flights actually fly to Hamilton - that being the domain of Mount Cook Airlines and Air Nelson...

That is understandable, however even if those positioning movements were not there, Air New Zealand would be highly unlikely to approve of a codeshare arrangement with Kiwi Rail. Certainly, one of the reasons why I think the Tranz Alpine has been successful is that it has no air competition.

And an airport line from Wiri

That too, an airport line that can then have the Hamilton to Auckland Expresses run through with a stop at Airport.

[eurokiwi78]

I understand the geyserland express had a code share with ansett for a while, when it ran twice daily each way

[ivc]

LH codeshares with DB on FRA-CGN

[nzqf182]

LH codeshares with DB on FRA-CGN

AF is setting up codeshare trains with Veolia in France.

[eurokiwi78]

Short haul flights shoudnt be able to compete with rail, Auckland - Hamilton/rotorua/tauranga type pairings.

Same with Palmerston north/wanganui - Wellington. Ludicrous short haul flights.

[nzqf182]

Short haul flights shoudnt be able to compete with rail, Auckland - Hamilton/rotorua/tauranga type pairings.

Same with Palmerston north/wanganui - Wellington. Ludicrous short haul flights.

The thing is Air NZ will under cut the trains prices just to hurt rail.

[Nick R]

A one way HAM-AKL flight is like $70-$110, they would have to cut two-thirds out of the fare to compete with rail on price!

The flight is only 30minutes, but with the mucking at airports either end a two hour rail trip to downtown should be competitive on time (especially if they ever re-opened Ham central).

[jarbury]

LH codeshares with DB on FRA-CGN

Acronym overload..... what do they mean?

[kaiwhara]

Translation - Lufthansa codeshares with Deutsche Bahn (Germain Rail) between Frankfurt and Cologne (IATA Codes - CGN is Cologne Bonn Airport and FRA is Frankfurt Airport, so you can take the codeshares as the corresponding local main railway stations).

LH codeshares with DB on FRA-CGN

Acronym overload..... what do they mean?

[jarbury]

Thanks kaiwhara