They don't seem to have a website to link to, but go and find a copy
and read it!
by Peter
Just a reminder that the next Get the Train meeting is Thursday week:
Thursday 27th November
7pm at Dell's place,
5 View St
Orokonui, Waitati
Look forward to seeing you
Kaia
Wayne Mason
Thusday, November 20th, 8pm
$10
Waitati Hall (doors open 7:30)
Kaia
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from Get the Train group
Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons expressed support for
passenger trains in Dunedin in a pre-election interview in today's
'Otago Daily Times'.
Jeanette told 'ODT' political editor Dene Mackenzie that she was
brought up in Mosgiel and remembered travelling regularly on the train
between Dunedin and her home.
Given the existing rail line, the Hillside rail workshops and the
increasing use of the main trunk line for freight, she would support
any efforts to re-establish a light rail commuter service between
Mosgiel and Dunedin.
Full interview text on the ODT website:
Otago voted with its feet in favour of regional rail services
yesterday when the Taieri Gorge Railway charter train to Wingatui was
booked out. Extra bus services were organised in addition to the train
to take racegoers to the racing club's Melbourne Cup Day.
Taieri Gorge Railway operations manager Grant Craig said that 400
tickets were sold, the entire allocation. The train had 12 carriages
and locomotives were attached at either end to save the need for
shunting.
"People could go out and have a good time without worrying about
drinking too much," Grant said. "And then we brought them all right
back to the centre of town."
Wednesday's 'Otago Daily Times' (p2, 5 November) had a nice picture of
the train's departure from Dunedin.
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from Get the Train group
AN action group is to be formed to push for the reintroduction of
commuter rail services in Dunedin, after a ''useful'' discussion of
the issues at Tuesday night's ''Bring Back the Train'' meeting in
Mosgiel.
On a busy night for locals — with many people attending a meeting
on fluoridation and others taking their children to the Kids for Kids
concert in town — about 40 people attended the meeting at the Mosgiel
Station Cafe...................More.... http://www.thestar.co.nz/
The Group is seeking expertise for its campaign on the following matters:
* Global Position – climate change, peak oil
* History of train travel in the areas around Dunedin
* Specifics of road vs rail
* Accounting that includes environment, society and health
* Practicalities of trains to ensure long term success
* Potential economic benefits
* Establishing terms of reference for a feasibility study
We have 1300 signatures thus far on our Petition and more rolling in
all the time. Members will go to Oamaru Victorian Heritage
celebrations with petitions. If anyone knows of fairs or community
events to take petitions to please get in touch with us.
The ODT article on 23rd Oct highlighted behaviour of ORC employees and
the damningness of their response.
The Otago Regional Council is just one of many targets for a campaign.
If all else fails we'll sell a few raffles, sizzle a few sausages and
buy a railcar!
It was noted that Trudy Hutchison is organising a campaign in Mosgiel,
while Jean Park of the Business Professional Women's network is
pushing for the Southerner. There is a rail campaign in Hampden as
well. It is quite possible that many of these campaigns will come together.
The Name of our Group was chosen to be "Get The Train" and the group
now has a website:
The next meeting will be on 27th November, 7pm at Dell's, 5 View St,
Orokonui. (This is a change from the date discussed in the meeting.)
(edited from the full Minutes which are available to members by
emailing getthetrain @ gmail.com)
