• Monday 12th April 7 – 9pm
• Boodles Restaurant, courtyard area
• Selwyn Arcade, 182 Great South Rd, Papakura (walkable from the train station!)

Enjoy an evening of food, drinks and lively debate. The MP’s are:

• David Bennett – National MP
• David Clendon – Green MP
• David Shearer – Labour MP

For further details, phone Caroline Conroy (09) 298 5945

Hamilton East MP David Bennett was told to “get real” and “keep it shortish” when he faced a public meeting championing a commuter train between Hamilton and Auckland last night.

The National MP took the brunt of criticism over the Government’s lack of support for the service when he reiterated that the $1 billion Waikato Expressway was his priority and he was “not opposed” to a train service in the long-term.

About 100 people gathered at the meeting at Hamilton City Council, run by Campaign for Better Transport, to show their support for reinstating a commuter train on the main trunk line between Hamilton and Auckland – an initiative which would need between $700,000 and $1 million in Government funding to get it back on track.

Responding to this, Barry Palmer has prepared the attached letter, which eloquently explains why Mr Bennett is wrong on every count.

What is especially disappointing about Mr Bennett’s attitude to Hamilton rail is that he was a willing recipient of our petition to electrify Auckland’s rail network back in 2007, along with Green Party MP Keith Locke. We thought this marked a sea change National’s thinking towards rail, but clearly we were mistaken.

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 “People from all walks of life and from many different Waikato towns back the call for commuter trains” says Jon Reeves, a CBT spokesperson. “The Campaign For Better Transport is surprised that local MPs have not got behind this train service”, says Reeves “even businesses are calling for trains to and from Auckland. Then their staff can work while en route using modern technology like laptops as well as mobile phones, which will be banned from motorists in November. All these can be used on board the trains proposed for the service and increase productivity of the region’s businesses”.
 
Hamilton East MP David Bennett has publicly stated his opposition to increasing transport options in his electorate through commuter rail, but the CBT has done the ground work and knows that Waikato people want commuter rail services to and from Auckland. Jon Reeves says “Perhaps Bennett should talk with his electorate about the transport improvements they actually want?”
 
Despite what David Bennett says, the proposed train services will not be competing with the Waikato Expressway for funding. However, they will give the region a much needed alternative to driving into Auckland, and an option that completely misses all the traffic congestion. The price of oil is on the way up again, and commuter trains will provide a fuel effective alternative to driving. David Bennett believes the future is electric cars, but his arguments ignore the unproductive time workers spend behind the steering wheel and the fact that electric cars make traffic jams just like petrol powered cars, even if everyone could afford to get themselves an electric car.
 
The community support for the postcard campaign has proved so spectacular that the Campaign For Better Transport will shortly need to get more printed.
 
“Unlike any of the so called ‘Seven Roads of National Significance’, the train service has an excellent proven Cost Benefit Ratio that is higher than is the case for many local roading projects”, says Reeves “This is a classic no brainer for the Government to give the green light to rail. Now, let’s see if common sense prevails and they get the trains on the tracks to Auckland. Failing that, we will continue to send them thousands of postcards in support of the trains.”
 
Postcards can be downloaded from the CBT website and sent FreePost to an MP. 
 
In the next few weeks a team from CBT will also be around the Waikato region with more postcards.
 
“We have the passengers, we have the stations, now all we need is the trains” said Reeves.
 
Notes:
Business Case Study undertaken by Environment Waikato in May 2009.

Today the Campaign For Better Transport (CBT) officially launched phase two of its “Waikato Commuter Trains NOW!” campaign in favour of a commuter rail service between Hamilton and Auckland.

Waikato residents and businesses, as well as potential Auckland to Hamilton rail commuters, now have the opportunity to sign and send a freepost postcard direct to their pick of Prime Minister John Key, Transport Minister Steven Joyce, and local Hamilton MPs Tim Macindoe and David Bennett. 

David Bennett has recently voiced his opposition to funding the proposed Hamilton to Auckland commuter service, branding it a waste of time.  Jon Reeves, a spokesperson for the CBT, says “We hope that, as the recipient of numerous postcards in support of this service, David Bennett will respond to what his electorate really wants”.

Results from Hamilton City Council’s most recent Residents Survey show that 85% of city residents think a Hamilton to Auckland Passenger Rail Service would be a good idea.  This service could become a reality for a fraction of the cost of the roading projects currently underway in the region.

 Jon Reeves from CBT says “now it is time for the Hamilton MPs to do what their voters want and help push the NZ Transport Agency to fund the rail services immediately.  We encourage everyone in the Waikato to support our campaign so that David Bennett and Tim Macindoe get the message loud and clear”.

A business case report on a potential Hamilton to Auckland Passenger Rail Service was commissioned by Environment Waikato earlier this year, and it showed that the cost/benefit analysis of the proposed commuter train service is better than is the case for most roading projects in the region.

Those opposed to the commuter train service argue that it would use old diesel railcars, and the region shouldn’t be asking for more Government money because of the funding required to finish the Waikato Expressway.  What such arguments ignore are that the sums necessary to fund the service are tiny compared to that required to build new state highways, and that trains permit business commuters to start and finish their working day while commuting, saving up to four hours otherwise lost.

As the world economy improves and oil prices continue to rise, rail services from Hamilton to Auckland will become ever more attractive relative to driving.  Moreover, KiwiRail has recently refurbished a Silver Fern railcar with new interiors and larger windows.  It now looks incredibly smart and the same is proposed for the Hamilton to Auckland trains.  As well as business commuters, the trains would cater for tourists keen to enjoy the scenery and a glass of wine while relaxing.

 The Campaign For Better Transport would like to see some of the services departing from and arriving to the Hamilton Central underground station.  “Hamilton has a huge asset sitting unused only metres away from the heart of its CBD”, says Reeves, “opening up the central Hamilton underground station would allow city business workers to walk to the train and travel direct to the centre of Auckland or Newmarket, or transfer to the Auckland airport shuttle bus at Papatoetoe, and return without having to use a car at all”.

“No other city in New Zealand has the luxury of an unused underground train station in their Central city”, Reeves continues, “and plenty would like it”.

 Show your support for Waikato Commuter Trains NOW! Get a postcard and send it Freepost to the addressed MP. Postcards can be downloaded from the Campaign For Better Transport website www.BetterTransport.org.nz

Notes:  Business Case Study undertaken by Environment Waikato in May 2009.

About CBT:

The Campaign for Better Transport is a voluntary incorporated society dedicated to promoting sustainable transport and better use of New Zealand’s transport assets and modal options, including roads, rail, ferries, cycling and walking. CBT is independent of all political parties and has as its core objective the aim of ensuring that funding is available to provide sustainable transport choices.

The CBT has had high profile successes with a number of its recent campaigns and its membership is now growing throughout New Zealand. The Waikato region is the second largest membership base of the CBT outside of Auckland.