The Future is Rail: bringing back passenger trains to Taranaki

18 Nov

The Future is Rail – Taranaki is a small community group working to bring back passenger rail to the region. The group is affiliated with the national Future is Rail movement, which was formed in 2022 and successfully campaigned for the return of the Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific trains.

Community interest in reviving passenger rail across the country is growing. The Taranaki group was formed following a public meeting, and a survey conducted during consultation for the Taranaki Regional Council’s Public Transport Plan showed strong public support for new passenger services.

Why have passenger rail?

There are many benefits to rail.

Besides being a comfortable and scenic way to travel, it is an accessible, sustainable, and safer transport alternative. The group’s vision is to reinstate regular passenger rail services between New Plymouth, Whanganui, Palmerston North and Wellington, reconnecting communities across the North Island and boosting regional economies and tourism. More rail would mean fewer vehicles on the road—reducing emissions, congestion, pollution, and road maintenance costs.

*Credit; Graeme McClare, 8 April 1977. The Blue Streak passing through Waitotara on its way to Wellington.*

Raising awareness and petition

Because passenger rail stopped in Taranaki in the 1980s, some people find it hard to imagine rail as part of the region’s future. The group has focused on raising awareness of what’s possible. One of its members, Louise James, stood for the Taranaki Regional Council this year and campaigned on rail. A petition calling on the government to bring back passenger rail closes on 30 November, and the group is encouraging as many people as possible to sign.

You can read and sign the petition here.

What about freight?

Future is Rail – Taranaki also supports shifting more freight to rail, reducing the number of trucks on local roads. A short video titled Freight trains, passenger rail for fewer trucks on Taranaki roads on YouTube explains the potential benefits.

Financial

While rail is sometimes criticised as not being financially viable, government reports show that not all economic and environmental benefits are captured in traditional cost calculations. Roads are heavily subsidised, while KiwiRail must operate commercially, creating an uneven playing field.

Taranaki Regional Council commitment

The group has been working to strengthen the role of rail in local transport plans, which is necessary before Waka Kotahi (NZTA) or KiwiRail will engage in any revival. Those efforts have paid off: the latest Regional Land Transport Plan for Taranaki now includes a commitment for the Regional Transport Committee to advocate to central government and support KiwiRail in undertaking a feasibility study on the future of passenger rail in the region. The next step is to ensure the Taranaki Regional Council honours this commitment and works towards getting the feasibility study underway.