issued by
Get the Train
and
Taieri Gorge Railway
Rail groups who have made submissions on the Otago Regional Council's Draft Land Transport Strategy have noted that the Council staff preparing the report have not discussed rail's potential role in meeting the Region's transport needs.
The Otago Regional Council's draft dismisses rail in 28 words as "out of the scope" of the strategy. A search of similar regional strategies reveals, not surprisingly, that Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch regional governments all give a great deal of thought to rail's role in their metropolises.
The cover of Auckland's Regional Land Transport Strategy is dominated by a photo of a passenger train. The Otago draft has a photo of an empty road.
Get the Train spokesperson Ross Johnston points out that "Even the Environment Southland regional transport strategy devotes about half a page to rail's role and potential in their province. To be exact, 273 words to 28, about ten-to-one. It's embarrassing to have our southern cousins running rings around us in transport planning, like they do in netball."
The Southland strategy concludes Opportunities for the use of rail to transport goods should be facilitated where practical.
Get the Train will present their submission to the Otago Regional Council at 2pm on Tuesday 19 May, and will table the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Southland strategies.
Get the Train wants the Council to add a chapter to the Strategy giving an inventory of Otago's rail facilities and discussing their potential to assist in the Region's transport , environmental and social needs.
ENDS
Contact details:
Get the Train:
- by email: Ross Johnston -- jpl@callsouth.net.nz
- by mobile after 2pm: Dell McLeod 027 668 0089
- by phone: Danielle Cameron 482 1233
Taieri Gorge Railway
Grant Craig or Murray Bond: Ph 4774449 Extn 820 or 0274 822895
APPENDIX
Extracts from various Regional Council strategies
Draft Otago Regional Land Transport Programme 2009 - 2012: "Strategic planning of, and improvements to, the rail network—whether the main trunk line or Taieri Gorge railway—is outside the scope of this regional land transport strategy." (p6)
Wellington Regional Land Transport Strategy 2007 - 2016: "Rail is a prominent mode here and the programme proposes early reversal of the long term neglect of rail infrastructure." (p5)
"The rail network is particularly important in the Wellington region, providing the key medium to long distance and high volume passenger transport service between the Wellington City CBD and the region's
other centres and townships, and vital freight connections. Rail connections to CentrePort and the Cook Strait ferries mean the region's rail network is of national importance." (p19) link:
http://www.gw.govt.nz/story_images/4361_Recommended_RLTS_s8634.pdf
Auckland Auckland Regional Land Transport Strategy 2005 'Moving Forward' Summary document: "Rail has considerable under-used potential for the efficient movement of passengers and freight through the
region. Rail is not subject to the same congestion that leads to
inefficiencies with road- based transport. Rail users should be able
to move seamlessly to other forms of public transport." (page10)
link:http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/fms/main/Documents/Transport/RLTS/RLTS%20Summary%20Document.pdf.
Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy 2005-2015: "Rail is an integral part of our regional land transport network. It provides an alternative to some road-based trips for both people and freight. Where increased use of rail can be cost-effectively used, it can provide benefits through reduced road maintenance costs, lower environmental effects and by making our roads safer and more pleasant." (p29) link:
www.ecan.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/D0FDB7F9-DF57-4207-9B1F-75B0365DE10C/0/RLTS.pdf
Southland Regional Land Transport Strategy: "The existing rail freight service in Southland is limited to the South Island main trunk line, which generally follows the same alignment as State Highway 1, and the
Ohai and Bluff branch lines. Notwithstanding the limited area served, rail is a significant carrier of freight into and out of the region.
Short haul services are also available, particularly to and from the Port of Bluff. A number of Southland's large industries have sidings providing direct
access to their site.
The Ohai line runs for 79 kilometres from Invercargill to Ohai, with principal freight including refrigerated meat products for export from the Makarewa and Lorneville freezing works, and coal from Ohai to supply markets predominantly in Otago and Canterbury. The line is generally in a poor state of repair and is
operated on a maintenance only basis, partly because of the decrease in rail freight due to the increased trucking of freight by road.
A small tourist line operates between Fairlight and Kingston, where the steam train the Kingston Flyer operates. With the exception of this passenger service, all train traffic in Southland relates to the carriage of goods and cargo. However, the presence of rail lines
enables the option of reintroducing passenger services at any time in the future.
Rail provides an alternate, and at times a more economic, means of moving freight. It also reduces the number of heavy vehicles carrying freight on roads, enhancing road safety and improving environmental
quality. As a consequence, it is beneficial to facilitate and encourage growth in the rail sector.
Implication: Opportunities for the use of rail to transport goods should be facilitated where practical." (p9) link:
http://www.es.govt.nz/Documents/Regional%20Land%20Transport/Southland%20Regional%20Land%20Transport%20Strategy.pdf
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from Get the Train group
getthetrain.blogspot.com
