The Greens’ planned Stage Two works for a faster journey between Auckland and Tauranga – under the Project: Future umbrella – would cost $1.45b.
The overall total cost would be $4.02b.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said for a lot of New Zealand, public transport options remained infrequent and expensive, especially when travelling long distances.
“We want to connect our cities and our country with alternative ways to travel that will save people money, connect our communities and give New Zealanders real transport choices.”
Davidson said Aotearoa was once connected by a reliable passenger rail system that provided fast, frequent services that linked communities across the country. However, the privatisation of the rail network had led to the sale of assets for private profit and returned to people “in disarray,” she said.
‘Tracks already there – we should use them’
“Now, our ageing rail infrastructure is suffering from a generation of underinvestment, leaving the rail network in a state of decline with cancellations, delays and bus replacements.
“We should restore these systems so we can have an efficient, comfortable and affordable alternative to experience our country.”
The Green Party’s transport spokeswoman, Julie Anne Genter, spoke about better utilising existing tracks for passenger services and how that could benefit communities.
The Waikato side of the Kaimai Tunnel
“These tracks are already there, so we should use them,” she said.
“Restoring commuter rail will give smaller regions and towns the benefits of more travellers stopping at their town stations, creating more economic opportunities and connecting them to main centres and other towns.
“The train journey from Auckland to Wellington is long – which makes it perfect for an overnight service,” she said.
“All that is needed is new, comfortable sleeper trains and operating funding.”
The Greens’ statement said extending the Te Huia to Tauranga service could initially be done without additional trains – with scheduling adjustments for freight that would allow them to safely pass through the Kaimai Tunnel.
The Greens would upgrade ventilation in the Kaimai Tunnel to improve safety for passenger trains, construct stations, provide additional passing loops and make what they described as targeted track improvements to begin to bring down the travel time from Auckland to Tauranga.
Genter said extending the Te Huia service to Tauranga would connect one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions.
“All it needs is some station, tunnel and track upgrades to give the region and an affordable alternative to driving.
“With KiwiRail already undertaking significant work on the Christchurch to Dunedin track, extending it to passenger rail would only take building stations and some upgrades – making better use of exisiting rail infrastructure.”
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