Commuter rail fundraiser falls short

‘‘My commitment level to this project is to absolutely see it to fruition.’’ Tane Apanui

A Christchurch commuter rail scheme fundraising campaign fell well short of its target, but its champion is still committed to the cause.

The Pledge Me page for Dash Rail closed on Sunday, raising just $86,455 of the $1.8 million sought. As it did not reach the target, no money will change hands.

The project, run by Christchurch’s Tane Apanui, aims to buy second-hand rolling stock from Auckland Transport to start a no-frills commuter rail service connecting the CBD with people living north and west of the city.

Apanui said the failed fundraiser was ‘‘still a positive’’ as it brought the project ‘‘into the light’’ for the public.

Apanui, a personal trainer and former Hornby Ward candidate, said the campaign had been a ‘‘knee-jerk reaction’’ to news the rolling stock could be sold overseas.

Many people wondered why Government had not provided commuter rail, he said, but he had planned to take his scheme to the Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury (ECan).

He said he had met ECan representatives, but they were ‘‘quite averse’’ to rail, with the meeting becoming a ‘‘fiveon-one beat down of the idea’’.

ECan chairman David Bedford said the organisation had considered the viability of a greater Christchurch rail service several times in recent years, but found the cost would outstrip projected patronage.

Apanui’s information was being reviewed against previous investigations and ECan would have ‘‘a clearer opinion in a few weeks’’ about whether it provided new possibilities, he said.

Apanui was now looking at ‘‘Plan C’’, which was to set the project up as a privatepublic partnership.

‘‘My commitment level to this project is to absolutely see it to fruition.’’

Ara Institute sustainability manager Shaun Bowler said staff had met with Dash Rail, and while it was not specifically committed to or supporting the proposal at this stage, there was ‘‘a lot to like about it’’.

Many of the more than 2400 Ara students and staff surveyed in October wanted commuter rail from Rolleston and Kaiapoi, he said.

Wigram MP and Labour spokeswoman for Canterbury Issues Megan Woods said she personally thought commuter rail for Canterbury was a fantastic idea, but her party had not yet released its transport policies.

Before the 2014 election, Labour revealed plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a rail plan to unclog Christchurch’s roads if elected.