KiwiRail could be asked to consider extending the Te Huia train service south.
Bill Miller at the Otorohanga Railway Station
The idea is being pushed by Ōtorohanga identity Bill Miller, whose rail successes include ensuring the Northern Explorer tourist train continued to stop in his town.
He believed taking Te Huia south – it presently runs between Frankton and Auckland central – would bring in more tourists and their dollars.
“I wouldn’t expect it to run every day, but you’d have a hell of a lot of people coming down from Auckland. There would be quite a demand because people want to get out of the city.”
Barbara Kuriger
Such a move would be welcome by Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger.
“I love driving around the King Country, but if I was going into Hamilton, I would definitely use it,” said Kuriger.
“I would like to see the community rally around the idea. We could then take it to New Zealand Transport Agency and KiwiRail. If the local councils also backed the idea, and they had the local MP in behind them, then everyone would be heading in the same direction.”
Te Huia, set up four year ago, had set an example, showing how an increase in passenger rail services can encourage an increase in demand.
“Te Huia started off very slowly and it wasn’t a great success in the early days, but they seem to have picked it up, getting a lot more passengers,” Kuriger said.
“I wouldn’t like to take a stab in the dark, because a cost benefit analysis would have to be done, but I think it’s worth investigating.”
Te Huia
Such a service would require little capital investment and enable more people to live locally while working in Hamilton or even further afield.
“The trains go past, the stations are there, so if there was a good business case for it, it would be a great idea,” Kuriger said. “I think it would be extremely beneficial as long as the public is willing to use it, and it is affordable.”
Regional Transport connections director Phil King said consideration of extending passenger rail services across the region was part of the council’s future vision after successful completion of the Te Huia trial.
“Over the next 12 months we will be developing a business case to identify and consider options and staging. Specific station and route concepts will come from that work.”
King, regional council chair Pamela Storey and chief executive, Chris McLay, met Rail Minister Winston Peters in Wellington earlier this month.
The council recently suggested adding a Sunday service and getting Auckland Council to help with funding.
Wellington meeting, from left Waikato Regional Council chair Pamela Storey, Winston Peters and council CEO Chris McLay.
