Strong Candidate Support for New Passenger Rail Across the Country

A new survey of candidates standing in the upcoming Council elections has revealed overwhelming support for both proposed and existing inter-regional passenger rail services.

The survey, conducted by rail advocacy group ‘The Future Is Rail,’ received responses from over 300 candidates standing for 20 different Councils.

Key Findings:

• 83% of candidates support the provision of passenger rail services in their areas, with less than 4% opposing them.

• Support was consistent for both existing services (like the Capital Connection and Te Huia) and proposed new ones (including The Southerner, a new Tauranga-Auckland service, and a Napier-Wellington service).

• Many Mayoral candidates also expressed strong backing for passenger rail.

Lindsey Horne, spokesperson for ‘The Future Is Rail,’ highlighted the widespread nature of the support. “It's remarkable that there was little difference in the strong support from candidates, regardless of their location, for both maintaining and establishing new passenger rail services,” she said.

“It is timely that the Government just announced the purchase of new trains for lower North Island passenger services. It reminds candidates, and the public, that rail is making a comeback. Rail is a common sense issue, not a partisan one. People of all political shades are recognising the need for inter-regional passenger rail as a realistic transport option.”

"Regional and local Councils have a crucial role to play in ensuring these services are successful. That is why we surveyed Council candidates. Actions matter and if we want passenger rail to flourish, we can't sit back and just expect it to happen", said Horne.

Additional Survey Insights:

• Overnight Wellington-Auckland Service: 74% of respondents from the Wellington, Waikato, and Auckland regions supported a possible overnight passenger service, with only 6% opposing it.

• South Island Commuter Rail: In the South Island, 87% of candidates from the Dunedin and Christchurch areas supported the introduction of commuter rail services, with only 3% opposition.

ENDS

• Analysis of responses: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15Fy5LKxApECXwFqpZRWT6qdJocWpiPNP/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110310720578849231123&rtpof=true&sd=true

• Interactive candidate response website: https://thefutureisrail.org/lg25

CONTACTS

• North Island: Lindsey Horne | 027 427 3934 lindseyjhorne@gmail.com

• South Island: Dave Macpherson | 021 477 388 saveourtrainsdunedin@gmail.com or dave.macpherson7@gmail.com

• Patrick Rooney 022 154 9119 | organiser@thefutureisrail.org