Well done to the CBT’s Jon Reeves, ably assisted by Barry Palmer and Ross Galloway:
Leading rail industry consultants have added weight to a campaign to run a commuter train between Hamilton and Auckland, saying economic benefits would “comfortably” exceed operating losses.
They predict $15.5 million over 15 years in economic benefits including reduced road congestion from a single daily return service, against an operating loss of $6.6 million.
That would give the service a benefit-cost ratio of 1.9, or an economic return of $1.90 for each $1 invested by the Government and ratepayers.
The analysis is in a preliminary business case prepared for the Environment Waikato regional council, which is being urged by campaigners including Hamilton City leaders to lease Silver Fern rail-cars being taken off the Pukekohe-Auckland commuter run at the end of next month.
Although the council omitted a Hamilton-Auckland service from its draft three-year regional land transport programme of projects for which it will seek Government subsidies, it has received 40 submissions urging it not to lose the chance to obtain the rail-cars… [more]
It was a real last ditch effort from Jon (and a trip to Hamilton) to get the rail link into Hamilton’s plan. Nice one.
One thought on “Hamilton Rail Link One Step Closer”
Why not re-introduce the B.O.P express from Tauranga?
This service was quite well patronized when it was running and could be easily incorporated into the Hamilton passanger express service.
By vertue of it coming from Tauranga it would be going through the Hamilton subway platform and past the Hamilton Railway Station.
Perhaps if it is not viable as a daily service from Tauranga itself the Tauranga connection could be run on the same basis as the Overlander and run Friday/Saturday/Sunday during “off peak” times and daily during School/Public holidays.
The Hamilton part of the journey would of course run 7 days a week.
This could also be done on a similar with a Rotorua connection. I am sure with the proper consultation with the local Iwi in Rotorua,it could be shown that taking the rail back into the city to the old railway station, would be of benifit to all in that district.
cheers
Nigel Smith
Locomotive Engineer(train driver)
Kiwi Rail