Greens’ $9b rapid rail plan excludes South

A GREEN Party $9 billion modern rapid rail proposal misses the South — but the party’s transport spokeswoman says it was not an intentional slight to the region.

Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said the proposal to electrify and upgrade rail lines between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga; Wellington, Masterton and Palmerston North; and Christchurch, Rangiora and Ashburton — ‘‘and eventually Timaru’’ — was a proposal for the type of infrastructure project that in a postCovid19 recovery would create jobs and put climate change at the forefront of government decisionmaking.

The rail links were proposed to link areas for passenger trains where there was already a critical mass of people.

‘‘We sort of looked at where most people were living and where we could start work, out from there, and certainly would be happy to investigate going further — all the way south to Dunedin,’’ she said.

‘‘We’re not ruling it out at all — this is a starting point.

‘‘Ours was the first cut of a proposal, but it’s certainly not the final story of what could be done. And we’re thrilled that there’s been such positive feedback and desire for 21st century investment.’’

Building modern rapid rail in the regions would cost about $9 billion over 10 years.

The project would be rolled out in two stages. First, a major programme of work to electrify the rail lines between the selected centres, and targeted improvements to the existing track to allow travel speeds to increase up to 110kmh.

Then, building new higherspeed track to support ‘‘tilt trains’’ capable of achieving speeds of 160kmh and bypasses to create faster, more direct routes.

Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins, who stood as a Green party candidate last year, took to social media yesterday morning to ask ‘‘Why stop at Timaru though?’’

He could not be reached for comment later in the day.