Special workshop on Hamilton to Auckland commuter

Gauging local and regional interest in the re-introduction of commuter rail services from the Waikato to Auckland is the thrust of a special public workshop at 5.30pm, 16 April, Council’s Reception Lounge.

Submissions to the Regional Land Transport Programme are due on 20 April and it is important that this workshop is held prior to that date to ensure people are well informed about the issues if they want to make a submission.

Rail carriages will be coming available in the next few months that could be leased to allow services to start running fairly soon.

Works and Services general manager Chris Allen says Council wants to hear and identify the issues and services/facilities associated with commuter rail services and look to find solutions that could make the relaunch a sound possibility.

“One question will be whether starting services in Te Kuiti, Otorohanga or Te Awamutu might permit commuters to catch the train into Hamilton as well as provide new services to Auckland."

Environment Waikato is currently developing a Regional Rail Strategy and has employed Murray King, a nationally recognised expert in the area of rail/transportation industry to facilitate this for them. Part of that strategy is to develop a business case for the service and understanding the public demand that might exist is important. Mr King will be at the workshop to help answer any questions that people might have.

It is intended that the results and findings from the workshop will be fed into overall regional land transport considerations for the next three years.