Rail plan train wreck

Plans to trial a commuter train service between Hamilton and Auckland have been derailed after the estimated cost escalated to more than $1 million annually for three years. At the same time, the Government has approved a $1 billion loan for faster, low-polluting passenger trains in Auckland.

The Hamilton City Council's transport committee yesterday admitted defeat over plans to trial the commuter service after the latest KiwiRail proposal revealed the cost would be more than double the $450,000 figure it earlier indicated. The council was left as the main funder of the service after the NZ Transport Agency and Environment Waikato refused to chip in.

KiwiRail said the costs of the service were consistent with recent discussions with the council.

KiwiRail spokesman Nigel Parry said the latest proposal included costs of refurbishing the Silver Fern railcars and an option for additional services.

Support for resurrecting the Hamilton to Auckland commuter rail service was strong and an annual survey showed 85 per cent of residents were keen on it. The Auckland Regional Council, the Newmarket Business Association and several Waikato businesses were also rallying for it.

City transport committee chairman Dave Macpherson said while he still felt the service was important and would eventually happen, a cost of $20 a year per ratepayer for three years was too expensive. The city council declined KiwiRail's request to keep the proposal confidential on the basis it was not commercially sensitive, but refrained from naming an exact dollar figure.

The council earlier rejected a proposal for a three-month trial costing up to $400,000, saying it was too short a time to allow marketing and operation of the service. Councillor Daphne Bell accused KiwiRail of being "short-sighted" over passenger transport. However, councillor Roger Hennebry hailed KiwiRail for making a "sound business decision" based on figures he had seen which showed a much lower uptake from passengers.

Mr Macpherson claimed political influence stopped KiwiRail from giving the service a chance.

Hamilton-based Labour MP Sue Moroney alleged KiwiRail's pricing for the commuter service went up each time the local National MPs opposed the service and the party was bent on a rail sell-off. National MP David Bennett, who has opposed the rail service in favour of the Waikato Expressway, said claims National had influenced KiwiRail's pricing were untrue.

"KiwiRail sets their own prices.

"It's a bit far-fetched to think that we have any influence." Mr Bennett said the Government had committed to full funding of the Waikato Expressway and he did not want to jeopardise that.

Jon Reeves, who is leading the Waikato Trains Now campaign on behalf of the Campaign For Better Transport, said a public meeting pushing for the rail link, on December 1 at the Hamilton council building at 7.30pm, would still go ahead.