Rail campaigners meeting

Community leaders will gather for a summit on Monday about the Capital Connection train service as the campaign continues to keep the city's only commuter rail link with Wellington open.

Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway, who has been championing the cause, said there was strong community feeling that something needed to be done to fight for retention of the service.

Representatives from Palmerston North City Council, Horizons Regional Council, Manawatu Chamber of Commerce, Destination Manawatu and Vision Manawatu would attend the 5pm meeting, he said. People who had been involved in other rail campaigns would also attend.

The Capital Connection is under threat because passengers from Waikanae south may choose to use Wellington's cheaper, expanding metro services instead. Work on extending electrification and double-tracking north of Paraparaumu to Waikanae is due to happen this year. KiwiRail has signalled services such as the Capital Connection will be reviewed.

Mr Lees-Galloway said there was a lot of public backing for keeping the connection.

Supporters included people from Waikanae and Otaki who wanted an express service to Wellington to continue, he said.

A "Save the Capital Connection" Facebook group set up by the Palmerston North MP now has more than 700 members.

Mr Lees-Galloway hoped workable proposals could be thrashed out and then presented to KiwiRail. The summit was designed to generate more ideas and to get a strategy going to "channel the enthusiasm from the public" and influence decision-makers.

Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor said the Capital Connection was an exceptionally important service to the community.

grant.miller@msl.co.nz

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