Rail plan has signs of support

Transport Minister Phil Twyford has called mayors from Waikato and Auckland to the Beehive to discuss the commuter rail plan, in the most concrete sign yet of central government support for an Auckland-Hamilton link.

Hamilton City, Waikato District and Waikato Regional councils will meet with New Zealand Transport Agency bosses, Waikato-Tainui, Auckland Council and KiwiRail for a two-hour hui at Twyford’s Beehive office on February 26, said Hamilton-based Labour List MP Jamie Strange.

‘‘It will be with Minister Phil Twyford particularly, as minister for housing and transport, and Nanaia Mahuta,’’ Strange said.

‘‘The minister is keen for investment in our region around transport, particularly rail, but roading and housing as well.’’

Waikato Regional Council included commuter rail in its draft long term plan last month. Hamilton City Council has already made investment in a park and ride site and want 75 per cent of funding, for the proposed interim service, to come from central government.

The meeting will look at integrating light and heavy rail with roads and housing to capitalise on Hamilton and Waikato’s growth.

The transport corridor between the cities offers huge untapped potential, Strange said, and will be an important location for the Government’s KiwiBuild programme which aims to roll out 100,000 new homes in 10 years, with half of them in Auckland.

The Government was prioritising rail between Hamilton and Auckland. In a list of rail projects it is looking at, the Hamilton to Auckland corridor is ‘‘near the top of the list’’, Strange said.