Travellers and workers are being offered a cheap new way of reaching Auckland Airport, by rail and bus in less than hour - if all goes well. A trip by the Herald yesterday morning from Britomart to the airport, with a bus connection at Papatoetoe railway station, cost $8 and took just 52 minutes... [more]

Western Leader 

Plans for a $7.2 million tram system running through the heart of Henderson are being looked at by council as a way to improve tourism and revitalise the town centre.

The proposal would see a 2.66km tram line running from Corban Estate, into Lincoln Rd, down Selwyn Peacock Drive into Alderman Drive, on to Edsel St, Railside Ave and on to Great North Rd...[more]

ARTA has accepted in principle a recommendation for sweeping rail loops between Britomart and the airport, estimated to cost just under $2.2bn.  This is fantastic news and effectively endorses the CBT's airport rail petition, which was signed by over 10,000 people.  Full story here.  Given record high oil prices and public transport at capacity, it would make a lot more sense for the Government to fund this proposal rather than the $1.89bn Transit is asking for two motorway tunnels at Waterview.

The plan also includes a link between Onehunga and Avondale, which isn't shown below.

The CBT has released its latest Oil Production Briefing Paper.  Oil prices across all grades are at all time highs, despite conventional crude oil achieving record production rates.  Aviation fuel prices stand out in particular, with an increase in price of over 60% in a little over six months.

Local reaction to increased petrol prices has been of the "shoot the messenger" variety, with calls to eliminate GST, delay the imposition of fuel taxes and establish an enquiry into petrol pricing.  These reactions are understandable, but implicit in these proposed solutions is the idea that petrol, which is a finite resource demanded by every country on earth,  is somehow "too expensive", and that perhaps, one day, petrol prices will come down.  In our view this policy of hope is not an effective strategy.

Read it in full online here, or download the PDF here.

Press Release: Greater Wellington Regional Council

Greater Wellington Regional Council today announced that it will be buying an additional 20 new electric commuter train units in addition to the 70 that it has already ordered.
 
In November 2007, Greater Wellington Rail Ltd (a trading subsidiary company of the Council) entered into a contract with Rotem Mitsui, a Korean/Japanese consortium, to purchase 70 new trains (35 two-car units) with an option to buy a further 20 (10 two-car units) by 1 May 2008.
 
Council Chair Fran Wilde said that the cost of the additional new trains was within the $210 million original budget and the Council decided to exercise the option.
 
The first of the new trains, which are being manufactured in Korea, are expected to arrive in New Zealand in 2010.

ARTA press release

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) announced today that the first rail service to Helensville since 1980 will start on Monday 14 July 2008, in line with the introduction of an updated network-wide timetable. The network-wide timetable, which begins on Sunday 13 July, will reflect the completion by the New Zealand rail agency, ONTRACK, of the double tracking work from Henderson to Swanson, enabling four trains an hour to run during morning and evening peak on weekdays on the Western Line...[more]

The price of oil has hit a new record above $115 a barrel after a US government inventory report raised concerns about supplies...[more]

This is a major problem and our Government responds by building more motorways.

With the demise of the Maxx online discussion forum, the committee of the CBT has decided to host our own discussion forum for all things "better transport".  You will find it here:

http://www.bettertransport.org.nz/forum

There is only one forum - "Auckland Transport Discussion".  Just click the heading and take a look.  Feel free to reply to the posts and create your own topics.  If you have any other suggestions about the forum, send me an email -

Minister of Finance (and de facto Minister of Railways!) Michael Cullen marked the official start of the New Lynn trenching project last Friday. The $120m project, which involves building an underground stop at New Lynn in order to grade separate rail from the road above, is due for completion in two years time.

Dr Cullen spoke of the need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.  He also restated that funding electrification of Auckland's rail network was solely dependent on cross party support for a regional fuel tax.  No mention about diversion of funding from roading projects if petrol hits $3 a litre, or any contingency plans for rising petrol prices...[more]

A petition calling for a rail link from downtown Auckland to Auckland Airport will be presented to the Auckland Regional Council tomorrow [Wednesday 12th March].

Petition organisers the Campaign for Better Transport have collected over 10,000 signatures in a little over four months.  Over 2,000 of those signatures came from the campaign’s website www.bettertransport.org.nz.

"Having spoken to thousands of people, we can truly say that support for the idea is overwhelming.  In fact most people ask why we need a petition to do this," says petition organiser Jon Reeves.

Convenor or the Campaign for Better Transport, Cameron Pitches, says there are plenty of challenges ahead before rail to the airport will happen.

“The most challenging aspect of the whole campaign so far was going to the Environment Court, where we had to convince Transit, along with officials from the ARC and Manukau City Council, of the need to preserve a rail corridor to the airport alongside the soon-to-be expanded motorway at Mangere.

"The next challenge is going to be getting Auckland’s transport agencies to act on the petition."

A report on possible future rapid transport links to the airport is due shortly from the Auckland Regional Transport Authority.

Rising oil prices, which today reached an all time high of $US108 a barrel, are adding further urgency to the campaign.

"The beauty about expanding rail to the airport is that it won't just provide people flying in and out of the airport with a reliable connection to the city, but it will also provide thousands of commuters in the airport region with an alternative to their cars.  Higher oil prices are going to drive more and more people to public transport, and we need to expand our passenger rail network and its capacity as a matter of the utmost priority," concludes Mr Pitches.

[ends]

North Shore residents will find it even easier to commute the stress-free way from Devonport, just a 15-minute ferry ride to Auckland's CBD, with the introduction of more ferry services between Downtown Auckland and Devonport. The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) is also encouraging residents to take advantage of the seven-day Devonport Bayswater Pass which integrates local bus and ferry services and train services between Britomart and Kingsland, Glen Innes and Ellerslie...[more]

Auckland train operators have apologised for almost getting a public transport campaigner arrested, saying it was a case of mistaken identity...

Yesterday, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, which runs the city's railways, said security staff at the station thought he was another man who ran from a train earlier without paying for a ticket. Train operator Veolia, which is contracted to ARTA, had asked security to keep an eye out for the man...[more]

A public transport campaigner says rail bosses tried to have him arrested for collecting petition signatures on a train platform.

Officials from Auckland train operator Veolia pounced when volunteer Jon Reeves, 35, of the Campaign for Better Transport, was canvassing at Glen Innes rail station... [more]

The Campaign for Better Transport believes a rail link to Mangere and on to the Airport is a key component in the drive toward sustainable transport in Auckland.

Click here for details.

Europe's environment chief has admitted that the EU did not foresee the problems raised by its policy to get 10% of Europe's road fuels from plants.

Recent reports have warned of rising food prices and rainforest destruction from increased biofuel production.

The EU has promised new guidelines to ensure that its target is not damaging.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said it would be better to miss the target than achieve it by harming the poor or damaging the environment... [more]

ARTA Media Release

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) today took the next step in the delivery of an integrated fares system and single ticket for Auckland’s train, bus and ferry users.

A Request for Tender (RFT) was issued by ARTA today, inviting proposals for an integrated fares and ticketing solution for Auckland’s public transport services. The RFT is open to local and international suppliers.

The new single ticket will be a smartcard that will allow commuters in the Auckland region to travel on any form of public transport using just one ticket, utilising a simple swipe-on, swipe-off system. The ticket is due to be delivered in just over two years’ time, in 2010... [more]

Greater Wellington Regional Council today signed an agreement to purchase 70 new electric commuter trains (35 two-car units) with options to buy a further 13 two-car units at later dates, within the budget of $210 million. The deal was signed with Rotem Mitsui, a Korean/Japanese consortium...

Q: How much of all this is being funded by the ratepayer?

A: The works are part of a public transport package that was consulted on in the Council's LTCCP. Central Government has shown very clear support of these initiatives and is funding 90% of the costs through Land Transport NZ. The remaining 10% is loan funded by Greater Wellington.

Hmmmm.  90% you say...

[more]

Algiers, Barcelona, Dublin, Istanbul, Lyon, Paris, Melbourne, Rotterdam, Tunis... 25 cities have chosen an Alstom tramway and 50 other cities have a tramway project coming up in the next three years. This boom can be explained by the many benefits that this method of transport offers, in a context of exponential urban growth and strong environmental constraints, on a global scale. Tramways makes it possible to develop sustainable mobility, ensure genuine quality of service, to rethink and bring new dynamism to urban spaces, preserve architectural heritage and contribute to the growth of cities.

Read  Alstom's press release here.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil jumped nearly 3 percent to a record over $86 a barrel on Monday as fresh tensions in the Middle East added to worries of a supply crunch when cold weather stokes up heating demand this winter.

"A run at $90 is now seen as reasonable," Citigroup analysts said in a research note... [more]

Read our Oil Production Briefing Paper to understand more about the current state of the oil market.

Long sections of replacement railway track have been delivered to the western end of the Onehunga branch line, signalling full steam ahead for the return of passenger and freight trains... [more]

A bid to move cargo between Auckland's ports by rail could remove hundreds of trucks from the roads.

Pacifica Shipping, the main company operating from the Port of Onehunga, wants the suburb's branch line extended to the wharf.... [more]

Oil depletion from a UK perspective in a Guardian article by George Monbiot. 

"There are plainly two governments of the United Kingdom: one determined to reduce our consumption of fossil fuel; the other determined to raise it."

Sounds familiar. Read the full article here.

Commuter trains are set to be trialled from Helensville to Auckland from next year, 28 years after they were last run.

Auckland Regional Council chairman Michael Lee said it had approved capital funding to upgrade the station at Helensville, 50km northwest of Auckland near the Kaipara Harbour.

More at the NZ Herald here.

The Campaign for Better Transport will be seeking clarification from the ARC on aspects of the recent Budget announcement regarding electrification of the rail network. The ARC will be briefing a number of interested stakeholders on the 26th June on the electrification project as well as other work that ARTA is committing to in the longer term.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to allow the government to sue the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries for price manipulation, which the White House threatened to veto saying it could raise gasoline prices.

"For years now, OPEC's price-fixing conspiracy -- and that's what I call it - a conspiracy - has unfairly driven up the costs of imported crude oil to satisfy the greed of oil exporters," Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the bill's House sponsor.

[more]

Quite possibly the stupidest bill ever put forward by Congress. High gasoline prices are a result of the demand for oil exceeding the ability of oil producing nations to supply it, particularly the US which consumes a staggering 20m barrels a day.  Saudi Arabia produced 8% less oil last year than the year before.  All the lawyers in the world won't be able to stop the decline in oil production. - Ed

NEW YORK - Oil surged US$2 to a fresh 8-month high of US$70 a barrel on Thursday as US refinery breakdowns choked petrol supplies in the world's top consumer just ahead of peak summer demand.

London Brent crude gained US$2.03 to US$70.00 a barrel at 1818 GMT for the first time since Sept. 1. US crude rose US$2.07 to US$64.62 per barrel.

Better get those electric trains ordered quick smart then! - Ed

[more]

A French high-speed train (TGV) has smashed the world record for a train on conventional rails by a big margin, reaching 574.8km/h (356mph).  The previous TGV record was 515km/h (320mph), set in 1990.

The record attempt by a modified TGV took place on a track between Paris and the eastern city of Strasbourg.

[ more ]

Rod Oram hits the nail on the head on why we need an electric rail infrastructure: electrification of the rail network so faster, more frequent and reliable trains can run. And with lower operating costs and environmental impact compared with a diesel-powered fleet. [more]

CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER TRANSPORT INC
MEDIA RELEASE: 13 March 2006

The Campaign for Better Transport welcomed today's announcement that passenger services will be restored to Auckland's Onehunga railway line.

Spokesperson Cameron Pitches found the unexpected announcement from the Government "almost unbelievable".

"Over a year ago we organised a petition that collected over 8,000 signatures, but we were starting to think that may not have been enough."

The petition was initially rejected by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, but ARC Chair Mike Lee presented the petition to local MP Mark Gosche and it was subsequently tabled at the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee in Wellington a fortnight ago.

Petition organiser and Onehunga local Garth Houltham was on "cloud nine."

"I just want to thank the Onehunga residents and businesses for the enormous support we've had. It has made all the difference."

The Campaign for Better Transport has its regular monthly meeting scheduled for tomorrow night (Wednesday).

"I've offered to bring the champagne, so I'm not sure how far through the agenda we are going to get," adds Mr Pitches.

[ends]

For further information:

Government Press Release:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0703/S00234.htm

Cameron Pitches, Convenor Campaign for Better Transport: 027 288 9313
Graeme Easte, Alternate Spokesperson: 021 0328782
Garth Houtham, Campaign Manager: 027 235 7777

The Onehunga rail line should be pressed into use for commuter trains, Auckland Regional Council chairman Michael Lee today told MPs.

"Let's be shrewd. The old line has been mothballed to keep future options open, but why don't we wring value out that infrastructure in the meantime?" [more]

Bus passengers are being promised sweeping law changes offering them better odds of getting picked up on time, and by clean and safe vehicles.

The Government intends giving the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, and councils elsewhere in New Zealand, wide powers to set standards for all urban bus and ferry services.  Read the Herald's coverage of proposed changes to the Transport Services Licensing Act here...

Listed infrastructure investor Infratil could exit its $250 million bus and ferry services if radical transport proposals are pursued by local government.

Infratil director Tim Brown said the proposals would ultimately see the country's bus and ferry networks run by bureaucrats who would collect the fares and pay private operators a fee to provide the service...[more]

Leave your car at home and take the bus or train. That’s what the ads plead before every big concert or match in Auckland. We took their advice — and took public transport to four events.
Here’s what Merilee Andrews found ... [more]

You have to feel a certain sympathy for the Auckland Regional Transport Authority when it comes to the latest bus fare increases. Because of the Government-imposed, fake free-market transport procurement system Arta has to operate under, the bus operators have the public authority over a barrel... [more]

Auckland train and bus fares will rise next month, hitting thousands of commuters as they return to work from their holidays. 

Train passengers face fare rises of between 9.4 per cent and 19 per cent. The average is 15 per cent.

Bus fares will go up an average 7.8 per cent, but the authority says it will remain much cheaper to use trains.

[more]

Paris has inaugurated a modern electric tram line along a section of the city's inner ring road, the first time trams have run in the city since 1937.

Mayor Bertrand Delanoe rode the first tram on the new T3 line, built to offer Parisians environmentally-friendly public transport.

The line is set to carry 100,000 people a day along a crowded section on the Left Bank of the Seine.

[more]

BMW is manufacturing the first series of hydrogen fueled cars. They're not as green as they seem. For a start, they're incredibly thirsty -- and they will put more strain on the environment than a heavy diesel truck.

[more at Spiegel Online ]

Auckland lobby group The Campaign for Better Transport is backing the Ruapehu District Council's bid to keep the Overlander Auckland-Wellington rail service alive.

"Dunedin City Council's involvement with the Taieri Gorge Railway sets a successful example of what can be achieved. ", says Cameron Pitches, Convenor of the Campaign for Better Transport.

Mr Pitches is also hopeful that the Government will see the strategic value of maintaining a passenger rail network in the North Island, especially given escalating fuel prices and the demise of regional airline Origin Pacific.

"The main trunk railway line is already electrified between Hamilton and Palmerston North, reducing our dependency on the ever increasing price of imported fossil fuels" says Mr Pitches.

"In the same way that the Government saw the need to invest in Air New Zealand for strategic reasons, let's hope that similar reasoning prevails here."

Mr Pitches also believes a different operator stepping in for regional passenger rail services will realise the potential of rail to the regions. "Judging by the near total lack of marketing and poor investment record in rolling stock, it is clear that Toll want to stick to their core business of freight. But I think the potential for passenger rail services to Rotorua, Waitomo and all points down to Wellington is huge."

According to the Ports of Auckland, Auckland can expect over 100,000 people arriving in the next year on cruise ships alone.

"In February 2007 the largest ocean liner in the world, the Queen Mary 2, will arrive with 2,800 passengers. I imagine a large number of these passengers would jump at the chance to catch a train for a scenic day trip to Rotorua or the Waitomo Caves, directly from Britomart.", says Mr Pitches.

Ticketing could also be greatly improved. Developing multi-stop tickets would allow passengers flexibility in travel arrangements, claimed Mr Pitches. That way people can stop at towns, then resume journeys the next day.

"Councils need to lobby for better types of tickets that let people stop in their towns and continue travel without penalty," emphasized Mr Pitches.

"Low cost measures like this, and improved food and service, can be the basis for a sustainable rail service in the future to our regions."

Excerpt from a speech by Transport Minister Pete Hodgson to the Bus and Coach Association

"Now onto a challenge we all face.

It is peak oil.

When I first started including this in my speeches, it was something few people had heard of and fewer still understood. Peak oil is a term that refers to when the supply of oil no longer continues to grow. Supply peaks. The big debate is 'when will this occur' and the range of viewpoints is substantial. However, it will be this century and more likely the first half than the second.

This does not mean the end of oil. Instead it is the end of the era of cheap oil to power vehicles. It will put into sharp focus who is prepared to pay what for that that is available.

I would forgive some of you, who have watched the price of diesel at the pump march on towards being double what it was a year or so ago, thinking peak oil is already upon us. It is not. We are still in the era of relatively cheap oil right now. I pick diesel as it is not subject to fuel excise duty, therefore, oil price rises are more transparent at the pump."

Full speech available here