Petition: Don’t cast the South Island adrift!

Ensure replacement Cook Strait ferries can carry trains. We ask that the government ensure replacement Cook Strait ferries are rail-enabled.

The ageing Interislander ferries must be replaced. We believe it’s crucial that new ferries are rail-enabled, letting rail freight and equipment move easily between the North and South Islands.

Without rail-enabled ferries, the two islands’ rail networks will be disconnected, restricting the movement of goods and putting the South Island’s whole rail network at risk. Current and future passenger rail services also rely on a viable national rail network.

The government said in its transport policy statement that it would prioritise making the best use of existing transport infrastructure. The only decision consistent with this policy is to ensure future ferries are rail-enabled.