Campaign launched to get Southerner train back on the tracks

The Southerner train could make a comeback if an advocacy group gets its way.

The Future is Rail has made submissions to South Island regional councils in a bid to get a feasibility study over the line for the Christchurch to Invercargill service.

Tranzrail owned the passenger train from the 1970s, but the service was mothballed in 2002 due to low patronage and was not considered commercially viable.

At the time, locals tried to save it, but with no luck.

The question is now, have times changed?

The Future is Rail spokesperson Dave Macpherson believes so as technology has improved and carbon emissions have become more of a focus in recent years.

"Hybrid diesel, electric ones that are a lot more efficient and cost effective to run," he said. "And that is more affordable than airfares and driving."

Councillors at both Environment Southland and the Otago Regional Council have heard the group's proposal as part of the long-term plan process.

The group has also said it has approached Environment Canterbury.

They have suggested Otago and Southland ratepayers split the cost with Canterbury to pay for the $172,000 business case.

The group has also looked at the possibility of funds from the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi too.

"It's a very small rate," Macpherson said. "On average around $1 per every household" over the space of one financial year, he explained.

Macpherson told 1News: "[The study] gives us an independent, professional look and what's involved .... where the trains might stop, what a timetable will look like and whether passengers are interested."

Dunedin locals 1News spoke to have fond memories of the blue carriage train.

One person said he remembered picking up his new puppy from the train, while another said they enjoyed the comfort of the service.

Macpherson believes now is the time to re-explore the long distance intercity option as other regions look at expansion of the rail network.

"Let's do our homework," he told Otago councillors in Dunedin.

Waikato Regional Council is still onboard with its five-year trial for Te Huia, the train service that links Hamilton with Auckland.

Councillor Angela Strange said regional councils can learn from its experience.

"Being really strategic around where your stations are, probably where the old stations were on the old Southerner, those stations are a good place to start," she said.

"But getting them up to scratch on what the regulator wants will take a lot of money."

But advocates are confident the proposed service would be worth it.

"We would like to see that Southerner train go everyday each way. We believe it would be affordable with the right sort of level of government support that has been indicated for some North Island trains," Macpherson said.

Whether stations ended up being open to the Southerner once again will be in the hands of the regional councils.

The Southland Regional Transport Committee spokesperson Jeremy McPhail said his council "will go through a process in the next two weeks".

"We need to explore all options that the people need in our communities."

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