‘What’s best for Canterbury’s future?’: Regional rail remains on the agenda

Friday, 25 August 2023

A committee made up of Canterbury’s leaders agreed to box on with looking into a regional passenger rail service.

Canterbury is one step closer to having a regional passenger rail service, as the region’s mayors decided against kicking the idea down the road.

It followed pro-rail presentations from members of the public, who asked the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee to be aspirational, look at the success of rail projects like the Capital Connection (Palmerston North to Wellington), and to cash in on the growing popularity of rail as a mode of transport.

The committee — made up of every mayor in Canterbury, as well as the chairperson and deputy chairperson of Environment Canterbury (ECan) — was faced with a recommendation by staff at its Thursday meeting to defer looking into regional passenger rail until 2027, or when other transport planning began.

The ECan staffers argued since similar research was being done by the Greater Christchurch Partnership, it could pay to wait and see what came of that.

However, a detailed business case for Greater Christchurch’s mass rapid transit plan was yet to be completed, and was only considering light rail within the city limits.

Selwyn mayor Sam Broughton says it is better to find out how feasible intra-regional rail could be, rather than assume Canterbury isn’t ready. (File photo)

“What’s best for Canterbury’s future?” asked Selwyn mayor Sam Broughton, who led the charge in favour of continuing the committee’s investigations.

“We need to think about serving our children and grandchildren well, protect future [rail] corridors and the future needs of the population. To me 2027 doesn’t make sense. It needs to happen now.”

He pushed for commissioning a market and rail utilisation study, which he said would get them a step closer to knowing how realistic passenger rail was, rather than assume Canterbury wasn’t ready.

Hurunui mayor Marie Black said she had felt a “mood change” even within her more rural district in support of passenger rail.

The Capital Connection commuter train (pictured) between Palmerston North and Wellington was given as an example of how a successful inter-regional rail service didn’t need to be based on frequency.

Although her district might not be immediately included in a regional passenger rail service, she thought the kaupapa was “goal setting, aspiration setting for the district”.

Broughton suggested future research should include areas of the region that did not have existing rail infrastructure, and consider what the region’s needs could be as far as 50 years away.

Ahead of the vote, former ECan councillor Tane Apanui told the committee that rail was not only a popular idea, but worked well in other parts of the country.

He referenced the Capital Connection train between Palmerston North and Wellington, which was successful despite only operating during the morning and evening rush hour.

He said public transport use within Christchurch had decreased since the earthquakes, but he did not blame it on lack of interest.

“We’re not addicted to cars, but addicted to convenience … why wouldn’t I [drive to work] if a car takes 15 minutes?”

Current ECan councillor Joe Davies also presented to the committee, saying the region should at least protect the rail corridor from development that might stop future investment.

The committee unanimously agreed to go ahead with a market and rail utilisation study, estimated to cost between $150,000 and $200,000. It voted to ask the regional council to pay and oversee the work.