On 12 April 2022, the leader of the National Party, Christopher Luxon, was quoted in a news article saying “public transport needs to stand on its own feet. It can’t be subsidised or underwritten … it has to be able to build on its own case“. The following day he walked back his comments, saying… Continue reading National’s Attack On Public Transport Not A Gaffe?
Category: Local Governance
Ecan’s latest commuter train proposal a political stunt
In 2017, the Labour Party entered the election campaign promising to fund commuter passenger rail in Christchurch to the tune of $100 million. Labour won enough support in the election to form a government with the pro-rail NZ First party, so there should have been no lack of desire to implement this proposal, although in… Continue reading Ecan’s latest commuter train proposal a political stunt
Heritage Carriages Won’t Operate Forever
This week there has been a bit of a media furore over the proposed disposal of wooden heritage carriages owned by Dunedin Railways. Amongst the larger group of rolling stock which included a DE class locomotive, a stripped shell of an old DJ class engine and some old 56 foot steel car bodies, are six… Continue reading Heritage Carriages Won’t Operate Forever