Climate chaos a compelling reason to ride the train

Hamish Bidwell says, “No one wants to ride the locomotive”. Actually, most people would. However, that’s not what Bidwell meant. Perhaps he would like to know that TranScenic 2001 terminated the then-profitable Napier-Wellington Bay Express to use the carriages on other trains. So the train to Napier always made money.

Today that train would be a modern airconditioned hybrid railcar and much more attractive than the picture used in his article.

Perhaps Bidwell needs to consider that a compelling reason to get out his car could be the future threat where we could see the Yangtze River dry up while Pakistan is drowning in floodwaters.

Perhaps even European rivers might dry up, with fierce forest fires everywhere, even places in NZ could get two or three 100-year floods in a little over one year.

But that is the future and that is hard to explain to some people. However, one day when these things actually happen, Bidwell may finally see a compelling reason to try public transport again, or, at least, encourage others to get off his road. Another reason could be simply to improve transport equity in our very unequal

society.

Niall Robertson,

Auckland

Leave the coach alone

It is very unfair that people are calling for Ian Foster's head. He is not the reason the All Blacks are losing. Once the game starts he has no say except substitutions.

I don't think he says, “When you tackle a player, lie on the wrong side of the ruck to disadvantage the other team.”

I don't think he says, “When you are tackled, hold on to the ball so the opposition can't get it.”

I don't think he says, “When you enter a ruck, come in the side to make it easier to get the ball.”

No coach tells their players to break the rules. No team is going to win if they keep giving away penalties in kickable areas. If the players who keep infringing are dropped and players who obey the rules are picked, you will probably see a huge difference in the stats.

Leave Foster alone. Focus the blame where it belongs, on the players on the field.

Dave Davy

Taradale

Hydrogen, synthetics key

Governments are being short-sighted in solving emissions from ICE vehiclesby incorporating EV isn't the answer, with extracting precious metals to produce these dirty batteries and draining our electricity supply here in NZ.

Hydrogen and synthetic fuel is the answer to be emissions neutral to our planet. Having watched Top Gear last night English programme episode 1 is a must, about the synthetic fuel extracting CO2.

Tony Matheson

Napier