Editorial: Rail connection vital for city

OPINION: The future of the Capital Connection rail service between Palmerston North and Wellington is a long way from being decided, but the noises coming out of the capital are cause for concern.

The upgrading of the rail link between Wellington and Waikanae, extending electrification north from Paraparaumu and double-tracking the line, will likely see Waikanae commuters currently catching the Capital Connection switch to Wellington metro services.

And that, as Transport Minister Steven Joyce told the Standard, will have a "probable" impact on the viability of the Capital Connection.

Mr Joyce's hedging aside, common sense dictates that at least some – and likely most – Waikanae commuters currently using the Capital Connection will make the switch to the more-frequent KiwiRail service.

The exact impact the competition will have on the Capital Connection's patronage is unclear, but any drop in numbers will affect the service's viability.

While the issues won't come to a head until the extension work is completed in about 18 months' time, Palmerston North shouldn't wait until it's too late.

As city MP Iain Lees-Galloway says in today's Standard, it's important that city residents show KiwiRail they want the Capital Connection to continue.

Of course, the only way to do that is to ensure there are bums on seats. If there aren't enough people in Palmerston North using it to cover the cost of running it, it will be difficult to argue with a decision to axe it.

It's encouraging to see Mr Lees-Galloway taking a leadership role on an issue of such importance to the city, and his agitating will be key as the issue unfolds.

He has been Palmerston North's MP just over a year now, and has settled into the job nicely, if somewhat quietly.

As a young, first-time MP that's to be expected, but now he's found his feet he should start making more noise on behalf of his constituents and raising his profile.

This is the kind of local issue Mr Lees-Galloway should be getting his teeth into, and the fact he's leading the charge goes a considerable way to vindicating the faith the people of Palmerston North placed in him at the election.

With the Capital Connection being such an important transport link for the city, one only hopes it is a battle he isn't required to fight.

One more thing

We've certainly been inundated lately with letters and text messages from people upset at the state of Kelvin Grove Cemetery.

It's great to read in today's paper that the Palmerston North City Council has taken notice and cleaned it up.

The depth of feeling about the state of the grounds shouldn't come as a surprise; it's a sacred place, especially for those whose loved ones are buried there.

With all the attention the poor state of the cemetery has attracted, I'm sure the PNCC won't let its standard slip again.

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