World Cup rail-link to boost tourism

An Auckland-to-Hamilton train service is being touted for the Rugby World Cup as a way to boost visitors to the city.

KiwiRail public affairs general manager Kevin Ramshaw confirmed it was "looking at excursion trains... between Hamilton and Auckland", linked to 10 games in either Hamilton or Auckland.

A permanent train link between Auckland and Hamilton was derailed last month when the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee told Parliament it had rejected hearing submitters of the petition.

More than 11,500 people have called for a service to be established and the Hamilton City Council has made a $258,000 commitment in its draft budget, but local government politicians say there needs to be more commercial buy-in from Kiwirail for the project to work.

Business development agency Opportunity Hamilton approached Kiwirail about the service but said it needs to cover the full 42 days of RWC.

Opportunity Hamilton chief executive Sandra Perry said it could be what is needed for a permanent service to gain momentum.

"The primary benefit to our city and region is the ability to get more people out of Auckland and spending their tourism dollars in our hotels [and] restaurants."

Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wayne Walford said Hamilton would benefit more from a daily commuter service which would give visitors more choices around staying in Hamilton.

"It looks like it will only be on the key games days, which is a shame," he said.

A daily service would give Hamilton a better tourism opportunity and also take pressure off Auckland, he said.

"I'm not convinced just having [the service] on the days on a one-day basis will add value to the accommodation sector."

National MP for Hamilton East David Bennett said the economic case for a commuter service would have to be made by Opportunity Hamilton. "It would be a commercial transaction they have to work out."

He also felt a daily service might backfire on Hamilton's hospitality industry, making it easier for people to base themselves in Auckland and only come to Hamilton for big games here.

Waikato Moteliers' Association president Trish Wood said plans to put a train service in place had to be a positive for the city.

"Anything that is going to increase the number of people coming into the city for the Rugby World Cup has to be a good thing."

Advanced bookings for the World Cup were slowly coming in. "We're certainly not charging the $1700 rates that places like Auckland..."

Hamilton's Central Business Association general manager Ree Varcoe said any rail service would benefit the city and would give residents a taste of using public rail transport.

- © Fairfax NZ News