20 November 2008

D Scene reports Taieri Gorge boss's pessimism

This week's 'D Scene' newspaper has a cover story in which Taieri
Gorge Railway chief executive Murray Bond expresses pessimism
regarding the newly elected Government's attitude to rail passenger
projects in the South.

They don't seem to have a website to link to, but go and find a copy
and read it!

by Peter

19 November 2008

Thursday 27 November meeting reminder

Hello everybody

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


getthetrain.blogspot.com

16 November 2008

Wayne Mason Concert

Wayne Mason, a brilliant Kiwi singer/song writer, is playing at
Waitati Hall next Thursday. Wayne is a train enthusiant and has been
supporting our efforts to get the train back in his publicity. Come
along and enjoy this concert:

Wayne Mason
Thusday, November 20th, 8pm
$10
Waitati Hall (doors open 7:30)

Kaia

--
--------------------------

from Get the Train group

getthetrain.blogspot.com

07 November 2008

Story from Otago Daily Times Online

Labour's deputy leader jumps on board.

Commuter train one possibility

A Labour Government would "be in the business" of subsidising a commuter train between Dunedin and Mosgiel if it had regional council backing, the party's deputy leader Michael Cullen said while in Dunedin yesterday.

06 November 2008

Possible Government coalition partner supports Dunedin rail

Photo: Jeanette Fitzsimons with her party co-leader, Dr Russel Norman
(photo from greens.org.nz)

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:

http://www.odt.co.nz/election-2008/opinion/30564/greens-keen-offer-039tired039-labour-some-refreshment

05 November 2008

Wingatui race day train booked out

Photo: Taieri Gorge Railway locomotives and carriages (Photo by
Wikimedia Commons)

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.

--
--------------------------

from Get the Train group

getthetrain.blogspot.com

31 October 2008

Article in 'The Star' about Mosgiel meeting

'Bring Back the Train' group to be formed
By BRENDA HARWOOD

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/

Inaugural Meeting of Get the Train group

'Get the Train' held its Inaugural Meeting in Waitati on 23rd October 08. The
members discussed promotion, a submission to next year's ORC 10 yearly
Plan, whether we need to set up a legal entity and how to go about a
feasibility study.

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:

getthetrain.blogspot.com

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)

28 October 2008

Mosgiel commuter train meeting TONIGHT (Tuesday)

A meeting to discuss the feasibility of the return of the Mosgiel
commuter train will be held at 7pm in the Mosgiel Station cafe and
function centre in Gladstone Rd TONIGHT, Tuesday 28 October. Organised
by Fairfield resident Trudy Hutchison.

26 October 2008

Story from Otago Daily Times Online

Cool response to suburban rail push

Cool response to suburban rail push

It would take "millions" of signatures for the Otago Regional Council to reconsider rail as a passenger transport option in Dunedin, but a Purakaunui woman believes the council needs to "look outside the square" and into the feasibility of running a suburban railcar service from Dunedin.

Story from Otago Daily Times Online

Push to re-establish 'Southerner'

Push to re-establish 'Southerner'

Dunedin people are being urged to jump aboard and join the call to restore commuter train travel in the south.

Story from Otago Daily Times Online

Strong support for trains

Strong support for the return of a suburban train service from Dunedin to Port Chalmers and up the north line to Waitati, Waikouaiti and Palmerston was apparent at a public meeting attended by more than 200 people in the Waitati hall this week.

Story from Otago Daily Times Online

Commuter train pressure grows

Commuter train pressure grows

The public pressure for reestablishing commuter rail services in Dunedin is cranking up with another ''Bring Back the Train'' public meeting.

Poll shows huge support for commuter rail

Otago Daily Times online poll:

http://www.odt.co.nz/polls/13510/should-commuter-trains-return-dunedin-tracks