Get real, MP Bennett told

Hamilton East MP David Bennett was told to "get real" and "keep it shortish" when he faced a public meeting championing a commuter train between Hamilton and Auckland last night.

The National MP took the brunt of criticism over the Government's lack of support for the service when he reiterated that the $1 billion Waikato Expressway was his priority and he was "not opposed" to a train service in the long-term.

About 100 people gathered at the meeting at Hamilton City Council, run by Campaign for Better Transport, to show their support for reinstating a commuter train on the main trunk line between Hamilton and Auckland – an initiative which would need between $700,000 and $1 million in Government funding to get it back on track.

Mr Bennett could not make any promises about when a commuter service would be on the cards and encouraged people to keep advocating for it, warning the cost of the total rail package was closer to $1b than $1m.

New Zealand Transport Agency regional director Harry Wilson said he felt "a bit like the grinch who stole Christmas" when he said the funding for the service was not available.

Mr Wilson said other services would have to be cut to fund the train.

"I'm sure this is a great idea, the problem is we can't afford it," he said.

The crowd later challenged Mr Wilson's figures which were based on the original business case and not the latest costings provided to Hamilton City Council from KiwiRail.

Numerous figures were quoted by both sides to support their arguments, leaving the audience more confused about whether it was a viable service.

One supporter accused the speakers of making something simple "bloody complicated".

KiwiRail chief executive Jim Quinn supported the train service in principle, but said it was not commercially viable at this stage.

Mr Quinn said for the service to get a good trial it needed to be regular, comfortable and have the capacity to grow.

"One train a day is a waste of time," he said.

Mr Quinn defended KiwiRail's earlier insistence for a three-year trial and said it would have allowed the contract to be broken if it had been unsuccessful.

On the other hand, he said KiwiRail would have struggled to find further carriages to support the service's growth if it was a hit.

Hamilton West National MP Tim Macindoe supported Mr Bennett's stance that the service was not cost-effective or sustainable for a small city like Hamilton.

Labour MP Sue Moroney said the Waikato Expressway and train service would not be competing against each other but would be complementary.

Hamilton City Council's transport committee was last week forced to pull the plug on 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.

Campaign for Better Transport organiser Jon Reeves said problems encountered with the previous failed commuter service could be overcome, and said the group would continue putting pressure on the Government to come to the party.

- © Fairfax NZ News