Councillor rouses sleeper train debate

Thomas Nash is under no illusions – Wellington’s buses need fixing.

But the new Greater Wellington Regional councillor – elected with an easy winning margin over all contenders – also wants to see the reinstatement of the overnight sleeper train between Auckland and Wellington.

The overnight sleeper wound up in 2004. Now, 15 years on, Nash believes the time is right to bring it back.

With an increasing number of people wanting to travel with a lower carbon footprint, he believed a business case should be done to see if a regular night train was feasible.

He pictured commuters and tourists being able to have a meal in the central city, board at Wellington Railway Station, sleep on the way to Auckland in a bunk, private cabin or seat, and wake up refreshed at Auckland Railway Station.

The fixing of Wellington’s bus network – as well as Let’s Get Wellington Moving project and already-happening regional rail upgrades – would help get people out of private cars and into public transport.

A reliable and regular overnight sleeper train between Auckland and Wellington would, in some ways, be an extension of that, he said.

While there were many others – notably KiwiRail and likely central government – who would have to jump aboard, having local body politicians open to the idea was a step forward, he said. ‘‘We weren’t elected to maintain the status quo.’’

But cold water has been poured on the idea by KiwiRail tourism and marketing head Ah-Leen Rayner. ‘‘There are no current plans for an overnight sleeper.

‘‘We already provide the Northern Explorer service that runs between Auckland and Wellington during the day, along with other tourism services. Developing and growing those services is currently the focus of our attention.’’

Auckland University professor Shaun Hendy spent a year without plane travel. He believed an overnight service would prove a success – particularly with business travellers.

‘‘There’s a lot of business people now more conscious of their carbon footprint but there just aren’t good alternatives,’’ he said.

KEVIN STENT/STUFF Newly-elected Greater Wellington Regional councillor Thomas Nash is keen to see the overnight sleeper Wellington to Auckland train service restored. It ended in 2004.