No Bennett-fit For Having Waikato Rail

in General by Jon C — October 8, 2009 at 3:26 pm | 6 comments

The Waikato rail proposal is continuing to run into fierce opposition from a regional National MP who is arguing the road versus rail debate.

As we know, CBT has been running a very active campaign to get a decision on a daily commuter rail service between Hamilton and Auckland using the refurbished Silver Fern railcars.

But National MP David Bennett has made it clear that he is hugely in favour of the Waikato Expressway motorway and can’t see merit in a rail service.

Now he is replying to those who have written urging a commuter rail service by telling them  that any potential rail service would have “problems.”

According to a letter sighted, the MP for Hamilton East says these problems are:

• The main trunk line is not electrified. A diesel train would not have environmental benefits. Over time this link would have environmentally negative consequences to the road option where more efficient and cleaner vehicles would be used.
• The Waikato region has received one of the biggest roading packages in the country with the Waikato Expressway.This is a huge project and it simply wouldn’t be in Waikato’s interest to advocate for a competing use of funds and jeopardise the biggest project central government can do for the region.
• The nature of use of the Auckland rail network means the train can not use the Britomart terminal. That terminal is basically at capacity at peak times so in effect the train can’t reach its final destination.
• The best approach for a multi-model solution is driving to the outskirts of Auckland on the expressway and from there use Park and Ride alternatives to get into the city. This would be cheaper than travel from Hamilton by train. It would give commuters choice on travel times as the Auckland trains run more regularly and would accommodate commuters’ travel times. Also it would mean avoiding congestion on the Auckland southern motorway.

To which the CBT reply:

• 96 people on one railcar is far more fuel efficient then 96 independent vehicles travelling over the same distance. Scientific studies show rail is 4 to 5.5 times more fuel efficient when compared to vehicles.
• Just because a region has some roading money for a project with no cost benefit ratio (Waikato expressway) does that mean you can’t have an alternative option i.e. rail service with a good cost benefit ratio?
• The Business Study mentions that KiwiRail believe the additional rail services can be accommodated in Britomart.
• How would it be the “best approach”? Still there is productivity loss through daily commuters having to drive for 1 hour to Pukekohe. How would it be cheaper once you take the cost of fuel, WOF, insurance and depreciation on your vehicle into account?  There are no park and ride facilities at Pukekohe Station.
• Is he asking the Auckland region to fund Waikato car drivers? Additionally, peak trains from Pukekohe are full already, so it would be better for Waikato residents to be a board a railcar before it arrives in the Auckland catchment area.

Despite the CBT’s best flawless efforts, there doesn’t seem any sign of the Silver Ferns arriving at Te Rapa to whisk people to Auckland anytime soon. Sigh.

Tags: Waikato rail