When it comes to rail, the South Island has become the poor cousin.
Rail services used to connect the South Island from North to South and East to West. Very little remains, but the rail network could easily transport locals, tourists, and freight across the island.
What are the issues in the South Island?
The Southerner ran between Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill until 2002. We've held public meetings along the old Southerner route and it's clear that there is a great deal of support for this route to return. We support it too.
We advocate for the establishment of a Canterbury regional rail network connecting Amberley to Timaru. This proposal makes logical sense, especially given recent population growth in regional towns like Rolleston and Rangiora.
The coalition government has cancelled rail enabled Cook Strait ferries. An end to rail ferries will lead to the withering of the South Island's rail network and ultimately the unravelling of the national network. There are few things more important than connecting our two main islands.
Rail provides opportunities to transport people to the South Island's natural attractions in a more climate friendly way.