The Campaign For Better Transport

Stuff.co.nz reports that patronage is increasing for long-distance train services.

Travellers are taking to the tracks, with a boost in patronage for long-distance trains – including the nearly derailed Overlander.

KiwiRail’s three long-distance services have shown an 11 per cent increase in passenger numbers – or 34,000 more travellers – in the past year.

And, after narrowly avoiding the axe four years ago, the Overlander train service had the highest growth, with a 24 per cent increase.

Figures from KiwiRail show there were 340,000 passenger journeys on the TranzAlpine, TranzCoastal and Overlander in the past financial year, up from 306,000. Of those the TranzAlpine – from Christchurch to Greymouth – was the most popular, with 193,000.

KiwiRail passenger general manager Deborah Hume said the passengers included tourists and local travellers, and showed that people were increasingly seeing rail as a travel option.

“We have worked hard in a challenging international market and it is pleasing to see that rail travel is increasingly popular with a wide variety of people.”

This is a great result for Debbie Hume and the team at KiwiRail. It seems obvious that a Hamilton to Auckland rail service would do extremely well.

Today the Campaign For Better Transport (CBT) has launched a special website http://www.votetrains.org.nz for its hugely popular Waikato commuter trains campaign.

Last week in Hamilton, the CBT launched its “Vote TRAINS” manifesto for local body candidates to sign in support of getting commuter rail services between Hamilton and Auckland. Now this is being backed up with the Vote TRAINS website which allows the public to see online which local body candidates support getting rail services established within the next 18 months.

“Many candidates, from a wide range of political alliances, have approached the CBT to sign the Vote TRAINS manifesto. It states they will strongly advocate to get rail services the region wants. The manifesto also highlights that those candidates, if elected, will lobby central Government for funding equal to what Auckland and Wellington receive for their train services. It will also help Hamilton and Waikato voters to recognise which candidates to vote for if they want regular commuter rail services to and from Auckland” Jon Reeves from the Campaign For Better Transport said.

Read the rest of this entry »

Submissions have now finished, but followers of our Waikato Trains Now! campaign might find this letter we sent to Cr Norm Barker at Environment Waikato a useful summary of the current positions.

Environment Waikato are currently deliberating over whether to include Waikato rail in their Annual Plan.

The Waikato Times reports that KiwiRail will be laying on charter trains for Rugby World Cup games in Hamilton.

An Auckland-to-Hamilton train service is being touted for the Rugby World Cup as a way to boost visitors to the city.

KiwiRail public affairs general manager Kevin Ramshaw confirmed it was “looking at excursion trains… between Hamilton and Auckland”, linked to 10 games in either Hamilton or Auckland.

Brian Rudman sums up the situation quite nicely in today’s Herald:

Just as people from all around the south of England think nothing of jumping aboard a train to go to London for a day’s shopping, or to catch a show or a concert, Auckland, as New Zealand’s equivalent for entertainment, shopping and just about everything else, should be making it as easy as possible for our Waikato cuzzies to do the same.

As covered by the Waikato Times this morning, the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee will not be considering the CBT led petiti0n for a Hamilton to Auckland rail service. 

The report is here, but petition is effectively dismissed in one sentence:

The majority of us note that this service has recently been considered by the relevant local authorities and they decided not to establish such a service at this time, and therefore we have no matters to bring to the attention of the House.

The problem for David Bennett though is that is manifestly not true.  Cr Dave McPherson goes as far as calling it “complete crap” and that “Hamilton City Council has continued to support it and has not pulled its support”.

Environment Waikato is yet to meet with the NZTA to discuss the matter.

David Bennett is clearly wrong.

Media Release 28th April, 14:00

Environment Waikato will receive a petition this Thursday asking for a commuter rail service between Hamilton and Auckland to be included in its Annual Plan.

Signed by over 11,500 people, The Campaign for Better Transport petition has already been presented to central Government for consideration. However, campaign manager Jon Reeves says it is important for Environment Waikato to take a proactive stance.

“Environment Waikato need to take a proactive stance on this issue” said Mr Reeves. “They are charged with organising public transport in the Waikato area. Rather than simply sitting on the fence, the council needs to advocate and engage with the Government to get the service up and running in time for the Rugby World Cup. A good start would be to meet with local government MPs and instruct them to publicly support the service”.

Environment Waikato’s Annual Plan currently makes no mention of a Waikato to Auckland rail service, in spite of a favourable report on the idea which the organisation received over a year ago. The report confirmed the economic benefits of a rail link for the Waikato region.

The petition will be supplemented by the presentation of 500 personalised postcards to Environment Waikato councillors.

Submissions on Environment Waikato’s Annual Plan close this Friday. Mr Reeves is urging the public to make personal submissions in support of Waikato trains by emailing

The Annual Plan for Environment Waikato has, accidentally, left out any mention of the Hamilton – Auckland commuter trains. This is YOUR CHANCE to remind them they should happen this year.

The CBT has written a submission for you. Feel free to add to, or delete from, the submission.

RECOMMENDATION: Add a paragraph as to why you want the trains. Perhaps you are a student, a business person, retired, or just would fancy the region by train. Whatever, make the point known.

All you have to do is download it and send it to: Please cc so we can manage the numbers submitted.

LAST DAY THIS FRIDAY 30th APRIL!!