Tourist train fares rile commuters

Marlborough students studying in Canterbury would like to see a rethink of the Coastal Pacific train, making it less about tourists and more about getting from A to B.

University of Canterbury student and ex-blenheim resident Georgia Eden said she used to use the Picton to Christchurch train as a child, but it had become too expensive as a mode of public transport.

‘‘University of Canterbury students are aware that the purpose of the train is directed towards tourism, not easy transportation, however, due to Covid and the drop in international tourists, it is time to rethink the focus and allow the Coastal Pacific to be more accessible,’’ Eden said.

Kiwirail said it had no plans to change the service to make it more suitable for commuters – even when asked about the recent Climate Change Commission’s report which said more people needed to get off the road and onto public transport.

Second-year distanced, or online, student Chevaughn Hutchison had her husband drive her from Blenheim to Christchurch to attend compulsory block courses.

Travelling with their two children, Hutchison’s husband dropped her off in Christchurch and travelled straight back to Blenheim.

Hutchinson cannot get a licence as she has epilepsy, meaning she is dependent on her husband to drive her.

With an eight-hour bus trip not an option, Hutchison said if the train was cheaper ($50 to $60 one way), or if return packages were offered, and it ran more regularly, she would jump at the opportunity to use it.

Kiwirail tourism and marketing general manager David Shepherd said it was important to remember the Coastal Pacific offered a tourism experience, and was not a form of public transport.

Hutchison said cheaper fares on trains would only add to the number of tourists on seats, and ‘‘everyone would want to come to Blenheim’’.

‘‘But unfortunately now, Blenheim is a drive-through, everyone is just trying to get to their destination.’’

A one-way fare on the Coastal Pacific ranges from $79. In May to October, the train only operates on Saturday and Sunday, departing Christchurch at 7am and arriving in Picton at 12.40pm. It leaves Picton again at 1.40pm and arrives back in Christchurch at 7.20pm. The last five years has seen multiple changes to the train’s schedule.

It stopped for two years from November 2016 following the Kaiko¯ ura quakes. Covid has also interrupted its running as it is only able to run under Level One due to physical distancing requirements.

University of Canterbury student Bethan Grant said the frequency of the trains meant it was ‘‘even harder to use as a form of transportation’’.

‘‘I would consider this as an option to transport myself from Canterbury to home, if it works with my schedule, however the irregular timetable makes it hard.’’

Marlburian Glenn Howard made an online call for supporters to join the petition on reducing the Coastal Pacific fares in March. The petition is set to go to parliament.

Bella Vista Motel owner Julie Berriman’s daughter currently studies at the University of Canterbury and makes the trip to and from Blenheim several times a year.

‘‘If the Coastal Pacific was cost affordable I would be able to travel down and see my daughter more frequently. I hate doing the drive there and back alone,’’ Berriman said.

‘‘If prices were brought down then the [rail] cars will be more full and therefore they would be making the same, if not more.’’

Berriman said filling the train would also take people off the road which would benefit the environment.

Existing commuter trains in the north are backed by local and central government support.