ODT story: http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/waitati/127646/commuters-swap-cars-train
The twilight excursion will run to Waitati from Dunedin, from 5.45 to
8.40, allowing a 45-minute stopover in Waitati. Enough time to buy a
fresh cup of coffee and take a walk around the village.
TIMETABLE: Depart Dunedin 5.45pm, Maia 5.55pm, Sawyers Bay 5.50pm,
Port Chalmers Upper 6.00pm, Mihiwaka 6.15pm, Purakaunui 6:17pm,
Osborne 6.20pm, Michies Crossing 6.25pm, Waitati ARRIVE 6.30pm
After a 45 minute stayover, return trip departs for Dunedin 7.30pm,
arriving 8.10pm.
The cash return fare is $10 and bookings are not required.
Main points:
* morning and evening workers' train for Waitati, Port Chalmers and
other townships
* chance of an evening excursion for Dunedin residents
Detail:
'Get the Train' has booked the Taieri Gorge train to run as a commuter
service on 22 September from Waitati via Port Chalmers to Dunedin in
the morning - returning from in the evening.
An extra feature this year will be the chance for a twilight excursion
to Waitati from Dunedin, from 5.45 to 8.40, allowing a 45-minute
stopover in Waitati. A similar trip may be made by 'early birds',
departing Dunedin at 6.40 on the outward empty train.
The schedule will mean that the morning train will arrive at Dunedin
at approximately 8.40am.
We are inviting all Mayoral candidates to meet us off the train on
that day and asking them all to give us the gist of their position on
public transport in and around Dunedin in a succinct 60 seconds. Yes,
we will time each contribution and give them a warning bell at 50
seconds.
While we haven't told them this - we will also be rewarding them for
their efforts. In preparation are a number of 'Mayoral Trains' which
will be hung around the necks of participants if they can deliver
within their 60 seconds.
The aim of local rail and public transport advocacy group ius to "keep
the rails shiny" - to promote the idea of rail travel as an option for
developing Otago's transport needs for people and goods. We believe
that a daily train service on this route could be viable within one or
two decades as oil prices continue to increase.
We acknowledge the assistance of Community Trust of Otago, Dunedin
City Council Small Grants Fund, Waikouaiti Coast Community Board and
Chalmers Community Board for financial support for this venture.
CONTACTS
Danielle Cameron
Get the Train
4821233
Ross Johnston
Get the Train
jpl @ callsouth.net.nz
Peter Dowden
Get the Train
03 4822441 or 021 137 2129
peter.dowden @ gmail.com
TIMETABLE
(Outward train departs Dunedin 6.40am, arriving Waitati 7.20am. The
public may travel on this service)
COMMUTER TRAIN DEPART Waitati 7.40am, Michies Crossing 7.45am, Osborne
7.55am, Purakaunui 8.00am, Mihiwaka 8.05am, Port Chalmers Upper
8.10am, Sawyers Bay 8.15am, Maia 8.25am, ARRIVE Dunedin 8.40am
COMMUTER TRAIN DEPART Dunedin 5.45pm, Maia 5.55pm, Sawyers Bay 5.50pm,
Port Chalmers Upper 6.00pm, Mihiwaka 6.15pm, Purakaunui 6:17pm,
Osborne 6.20pm,
Michies Crossing 6.25pm, Waitati ARRIVE 6.30pm
(After a 45 minute stayover, return trip departs for Dunedin 7.30pm,
arriving 8.10pm)
Please note the slightly later evening departure from Dunedin and the
availability of travel on the 'empty' trips before and after the
commute. Ideal for those wanting a dawn or evening excursion. The
train will spend about 45 minutes at Waitati on the evening run, this
is to coordinate with a freight train going the other way.
We acknowledge the assistance of Community Trust of Otago, Dunedin
City Council Small Grants Fund, Waikouaiti Coast Community Board and
Chalmers Community Board for financial support for this venture.
We look forward to seeing you all on the train.
Peter Dowden
Get the Train
Timetable:
(Outward train departs Dunedin 6.40am, arriving Waitati 7.20am. The
public may travel on this service)
COMMUTER TRAIN DEPART Waitati 7.40am, Michies Crossing 7.45am, Osborne
7.55am, Purakaunui 8.00am, Mihiwaka 8.05am, Port Chalmers Upper
8.10am, Sawyers Bay 8.15am, Maia 8.25am, ARRIVE Dunedin 8.40am
...
COMMUTER TRAIN DEPART Dunedin 5.45pm, Maia 5.55pm, Sawyers Bay 5.50pm,
Port Chalmers Upper 6.00pm, Mihiwaka 6.15pm, Purakaunui 6:17pm,
Osborne 6.20pm,
Michies Crossing 6.25pm, Waitati ARRIVE 6.30pm
(After a 45 minute stayover, return trip departs for Dunedin 7.30pm,
arriving 8.10pm)
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--
Peter Dowden
26 Park Rd, Warrington, Otago 9449
+64-3-482 2441 (mornings only)
+64 21 137 2129 (mobile; occasionally switched on!)
Vote for public transport, Dunedin (follow the link):
http://www.causes.com/causes/521089?m=5068e905
by 'Blueskin News' editors
At least two hundred and thirty-five commuters caught the morning
train from Waitati and Port Chalmers to Dunedin this Wednesday morning
in a one-day revival of rail commuting organised by the Dunedin City
Council, Taieri Gorge Railway and rail transport advocate group Get
the Train.
Final passenger numbers were still to be calculated from ticket sales,
train staff said.
Several children used the train to travel to Purakanui School, Port
Chalmers School and Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School (at Maia), while the
train was also popular with pupils of several Dunedin high schools.
Those arriving late to school were able to use the the train as an
excuse, because the outward empty trip from Dunedin was delayed by
Wellington train control, according to train staff.
There will be a return trip from Dunedin to the coastal towns this
evening, departing at 5.30pm.
GET THE TRAIN (column): Remember the train on 10 March
by Get the Train Group and Peter Dowden
The 'Walk2Work week' commuter train is just under two weeks away, on
Wednesday 10th March. This is our chance to show that Dunedin's North
Coast communities want a train service, so make it a day, and please
pass the word on.
No bookings required, and the fare is just $5 cash each way on the
train. Bike compartment available (please help each other to load
bikes and board the train promptly; it is running to a very tight
schedule).
Timetable
Waitati dep 7.40am
Michies Crossing 7.45am
Osborne 7.55am
Purakaunui 8.00am
Mihiwaka 8.05am
Port Chalmers Upper 8.10am
Sawyers Bay 8.15am
Maia 8.25am
Dunedin arr 8.40am
Dunedin dep 5.30pm
Maia 5.40pm
Sawyers Bay 5.50pm
Port Chalmers Upper 6.00pm
Mihiwaka 6.15pm
Purakaunui 6:17pm
Osborne 6.20pm
Michies Crossing 6.25pm
Waitati arr 6.30pm
Get the Train Group is campaigning for safe, efficient regional train
services for Otago. More about Get the Train: getthetrain.blogspot.com
Get the train to work from Waitati at 7.40am or Michies Crossing at
7.45am – then stop off at the Octagon for:
• Free breakfast
• Entertainment
• Guest Speakers
• Information Stalls
Go to www.walk2work.org.nz to make a walking pledge, enter our
competitions and find out what else is happening.
by the editors
The rail transport advocate group 'Get the Train' is planning another
one-day-only Waitati-Dunedin-Waitati commuter train service during
Walk 2 Work Week next month, on March 10, spokesperson Danielle
Cameron told 'Blueskin News'.
"We really want to pack this train out so put it in your diaries now
and tell people."
The group was having a meeting at the end of January to organise the
train service, Danielle said. The service would be operated by Taieri
Gorge Railway with the help of Dunedin City Council.
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Ā ā Ē ē Ī ī Ō ō Ū ū
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".
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
