Rain may have put many people off walking or biking to work yesterday, but 100
delighted and dry passengers took a Taieri Gorge Railway train into Dunedin for
World Car Free Day.
[1] http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/75006/people-ride-train-work-car-free-day
[2] http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/75006/people-ride-train-work-car-free-day
1: Nancy Higgins of Warrington enjoys a coffee at Waitati Station.
2: The Waitati School PTA coffee stall, with Nicky Clarke and Sasha
Burnside-Woods (9).
3: Waitati acting Stationmaster Mandy Mayhem assisted by her son Max.
5: Mayor of Dunedin Peter Chin receives a bouquet from Danielle
Cameron of Get the Train. The flowers were gathered from passengers
and were presented in gradtitude to the council for organising the
train service.
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From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media:
voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff,
Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point), Dunedin, New Zealand.
All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public
domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished.
If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".
Half-million rail project
By 'Blueskin News' reporter Rozalina MacLeod
Ontrack, a subsidiary of Kiwirail, had nearly 60 men working on a two-day
maintenance project alongside Blueskin Bay on 18-19 September.
Robert Storm, a field engineer for renewals at Ontrack, told 'Blueskin
News' the sleeper laying project at Waitati was part of this year's
programmed work and cost over $500,000.
"Preparatory work started about 2 weeks ago and all work is expected
to be completed by mid October," Robert said. "We have now replaced
all the sleepers in this section but we still need to complete ballast
reconditioning and final track lifting and smoothing."
The job started at the track points at Waitati, where trains pass one
another, and the main line was resleepered with new concrete sleepers
for 2km towards Evansdale.
"Timber sleepers have a finite life and most of those in this area
were worn out or had suffered damage following a derailment a couple of
years ago," Robert explained. "Once completed this section of track
should be maintenance free for many years."
Hard work means hungry workers. Robert received many favourable
comments on the hearty lunches supplied through a reputable Waitati
eatery.
As 'Blueskin News' went to press, Ontrack were planning to work on a
1.5km section of track just north of Seacliff in the last weekend of
September.
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From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media:
voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff,
Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point), Dunedin, New Zealand.
All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public
domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished.
If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".
You will have all heard about the train by now, here is the confirmed timetable which is a little different: leaving Waitati 7:30am and Dunedin 5:30pmTuesday 22nd SeptLast time was a gorgeous misty silvery mix of community and our beautiful coastline, lets enjoy it againPlease forward this on to anyone else who might catch the train,Thanks, Kaia
Dunedin (Tuesday, 8 September) - Thousands of people will be taking to
the streets in cities around the globe on Tuesday, 22 September to
celebrate the annual World Car-Free Day.
In line with its sustainability vision and principles, the DCC are
supporting the day, both in-house with a competition for staff, and
city-wide by chartering a commuter train from Taieri Gorge Railway for
the Waitati/Dunedin route.
The DCC are keen to encourage people to use alternatives to the
private car, such as walking, cycling and using public transport,
because this can bring many environmental benefits, including reducing
greenhouse gas emissions that arise from burning fossil fuels,
improving air quality locally, reducing noise levels, improving safety
for other road users, and resulting in a more pleasant city
environment for everyone, as well as health benefits for the
individual.
The train is primarily aimed at commuters, although it is open to
anyone. It will depart from Waitati at 7.15am, calling at Michies
Crossing, Osbourne, Purakaunui, Mihiwaka, Sawyers Bay, and Maia on the
way, and arriving in Dunedin at 8.15am.
The return trip departs from Dunedin Railway Station at 5.45pm.
Tickets are $5 per person each way and can be booked from the Taieri
Gorge Railway booking office on 477 4449.
Purakaunui/Waitati-based public transport advocacy group 'Get the
Train' will assist DCC and TGR in promoting the train service in the
rural area.
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From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media:
voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff,
Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point), Dunedin, New Zealand.
All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public
domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished.
If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".
