A flight of fancy: Linking rail to a regional airport in the lower North Island
The Future is Rail argues that many domestic flights from Wellington could be replaced by trains. Trips from the Wellington region to New Plymouth, from Wellington to Napier, to Whanganui, and to Auckland, as well as towns and cities in-between, via night train. But what about remaining flights, including international flights? Could Palmerston North become the main airport in the lower North Island connected by a fast train from Wellington.
POLICYCLIMATE CHANGERESILIENCEPUBLIC TRANSPORTREGIONAL RAILINFRASTRUCTURETHE FUTUREINVESTMENTREGIONAL PLANS
Paul Callister
8/22/20264 min read
The Future is Rail prides itself on offering up well thought out, practical and affordable solutions to transport challenges facing Aotearoa New Zealand. It is why we developed our Quick Guide for Reviving Passenger Rail.
But occasionally, individually, some of us go rogue and indulge in some blue sky thinking.
The challenge
Wellington airport has major expansion plans. According to their master plan by 2040, 12 million passengers are expected to be flying in and out of Wellington Airport every year. This is roughly double the numbers pre pandemic. Annual flights are also forecast to increase from 85,000 to 105,000. The plan includes the usual greenwash about increasing flying while at the same time reducing emissions.
But it seems a second tunnel to get more people to the airport is now on hold. According to RNZ $185 million has been approved for design, consents and early works, but funding for major construction has not been provided. There was no start date for building to begin.
NZTA has previously said the total costs to design, purchase land and construct the project would be between $2.9b and $3.8b.
The airport is located in a very exposed place, subject to increasingly stormy weather and eventual sea level rise. A tsunami could wipe it out. And we need to quickly and significantly reduce emissions.
Source: Scoop
Kapiti airport no longer has flights to any major centres. The airport is very likely to be covered in medium to high density housing in the near future. Wairarapa’s Hood airport has no scheduled flights.
Whanganui airport is likely to marginally economic.
The Future is Rail argues that many domestic flights could be replaced by trains. Trips from Wellington region to New Plymouth, from Wellington to Napier (and perhaps one day again Gisborne), to Whanganui, and to Auckland, and towns and cities in-between, via night train. Powered by locally produced renewable electricity, not imported fossil fuels.
But some flights will still be needed, especially to reach overseas destinations.
In a short Linkedin thought piece Shamubeel Eaqub argues we have too many airports and there needs to be some amalgamation.
Palmerston North is already a freight hub for rail, road and air. It has a modern airport, also with major expansion plans. It once had flights to Australia. It could support longer distance flights avoiding the need to go to Auckland or Christchurch for connections. What if it became the main airport in the lower North Island for national and international flights? Trains link with airports all over the world, even in car obsessed Florida. Currently in New Zealand no airport can be reached directly by train.
Getting there
If Palmerston North did become the primary regional airport, how would you get there from the Wellington region, from Wairarapa and the Whanganui areas? Of course, if you had a car, preferably electric, and could drive, that is one option. An electric shuttle bus is another.
But there is even a better answer. Luckily Palmerston North airport was built directly adjacent to the main trunk railway line and near to the junction of the line to Napier. It means potentially you can reach the airport directly from Wellington and points north, from the Hawkes Bay, from Wairarapa and from the Whanganui and Taranaki regions.
Source: Google Earth
In Wellington, politicians heading off for a flight could easily get from parliament across the road to Wellington railway station, to catch a fast train.
New trains are coming to replace the Capital Connection. But we would need Fast Track support to make the line to Palmerston North a fast track. Luckily, KiwiRail have a Fast Track application lodged.
But it is without funding. The $2.9b and $3.8b earmarked for the new Mt Victoria tunnel would help the project get started.
Then, even more trains would be needed to create more services. An added benefit would be providing more local travel options for people living along this railway line. Including fast growing Levin.
Reducing emissions from long haul flights
This idea of course does not solve a more difficult challenge. How do we decarbonise the remaining longer distance flights?
First, we should make international flights pay for the full cost of environmental damage. Bring them into the emission trading scheme. With a price of carbon that actually makes a difference. Charge GST on such flights. It is absurd that GST is paid on a bus trip, or train if you can get one, to Auckland from Wellington but not a trip from Wellington to London.
Then use technology to decarbonise the remaining long-haul flights.
There are only two broad solutions being put forward. One is alternative aviation fuel, either produced from biological sources such as agricultural or wood waste, or power to fuel, using electricity to create synthetic fuel. The other is hydrogen.
Palmerston North is an ideal location for the production of fuels that are either agriculturally based or need renewable electricity. It is located in the midst of a major agricultural region with pine forests nearby. Its hills are covered in wind turbines. A large solar farm is being built close to Foxton, assisted once more by fast track legislation. It is already experimenting with hydrogen.
We need creative thinking and a very fast track for reducing emissions while giving people more local travel options. The Future is Rail.