Rail campaigner rallies support

A campaign on Facebook to save Palmerston North's commuter rail service to Wellington has attracted more than 550 members in just over a week.

The future of the Capital Connection train, a weekday commuter service between Palmerston North and Wellington, could be in jeopardy after KiwiRail announced plans to upgrade the rail link between Wellington and Waikanae.

The plans include extending electrification north from Paraparaumu and double-tracking the line.

Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway set up the "Save the Capital Connection" Facebook group to generate ideas for how the service could be retained.

He has been told by KiwiRail that the upgrades would result in an increase in Waikanae passengers using the Wellington metro services instead.

He fears this could lead to the service being cancelled altogether.

"It is clear from the growth of this group and the strength of people's comments that the public is adamant the service must remain.

"Obviously this group is just the start of the campaign, and there is a lot more work to do, but it is a very good start."

It was the first time Mr Lees-Galloway had used Facebook for campaigning and he has been amazed with the results.

A KiwiRail spokesman told Mr Lees-Galloway it would be about 18 months before anything was decided, so the MP has set about getting support from influential groups.

He will meet with representatives from Horizons Regional Council, Palmerston North City Council and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union this week.

Mr Lees-Galloway also wants to speak with other affected areas' local councils and MPs, and Transport Minister Steven Joyce.

Members of the Facebook group have slated the idea of a shuttle service between Palmerston North and Waikanae.

Thomas Pohl wrote on the social networking site that a shuttle was a terrible idea.

"The metro units have no toilets, no power plug for laptops, no tables, no onboard food, the seats are smaller and less comfortable and, due to more stops, it would be a slower trip.

"Any train going from Palmerston North to Wellington should go the whole way."

Ian Fitchett wrote that there would be too many stops on the way to Wellington and he would be more likely to travel by car.

Paula Smith wrote that a shuttle would be impractical.

"If we end up with shuttles to Waikanae, I for one will be driving to Wellington – and won't that be great for the environment!"

- © Fairfax NZ News