No Sunday service for new Hamilton train
A Hamilton City Councillor says he’s ‘‘frustrated’’ the new Hamilton to Auckland passenger service won’t operate on Sundays for the next three years.
Ewan Wilson said hurdles thrown up by KiwiRail could limit the success of the service.
‘‘I’m terribly frustrated we can’t operate on a Sunday for some three years because of the failure to invest in infrastructure in Auckland,’’ he told a strategic growth committee.
The train was proposed to run on weekends but work on electrification of Auckland’s network was blocking that, councillor Dave Macpherson added.
Freight trains were allowed into Auckland’s network on Sundays, but not passenger trains, Wilson said.
Hamilton’s representative on the multi-council Rail Governance Group, Wilson was ‘‘constantly frustrated’’ by KiwiRail throwing up reasons to not run services.
There was a regular battle with KiwiRail to have Te Huia run on public holiday Mondays, as well as allowing charter tourist services between the super-city and Hamilton.
Waikato councils had proposed a one-off tourist service for Te Huia on a summer weekend in January, but this was cancelled by KiwiRail ‘‘at the last minute’’.
KiwiRail had identified another track problem meaning the train couldn’t travel to central Auckland.
Wilson said the long-term success of the service relied on a ‘‘much broader appeal’’ than just a commuter service.
‘‘It’s got be more innovative.’’ Te Huia will run two return services from Monday to Friday – leaving early in the morning, and in the evening.
The first train will leave on Tuesday April 6.
The first new inter-regional passenger train in decades saw the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern singing its praises.
But MPs and councillors say people must use the train to make the $98 million punt a success.
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said she was disappointed KiwiRail had pulled the plug on charter trips.
She imagined Hamiltonians catching a train to Auckland for the America’s Cup, and Aucklanders travelling to Hamilton for an All Blacks match or sold-out Crowded House concert.
She wanted Te Huia to travel direct to Auckland and Auckland airport, but the current service was a promising ‘‘start’’.
West ward councillor Martin Gallagher asked whether there was a mismatch between the Government’s and KiwiRail’s aspirations.
Southgate replied she would raise concerns with Transport Minister Michael Wood when he visited Hamilton in late April.
There was a big market for train travel on Saturday and Sunday, East ward councillor Mark Bunting said.
‘‘People are horrified when I’ve told them it’s not going to be running on the weekends.’’
Wilson said governments were ‘‘cagey’’ about KiwiRail’s role because they were playing catchup on years of underinvestment on rail.
‘‘Whether it’s red or blue, both parties are as guilty as each other.’’