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The Weekend Sun
The golden age of Kiwi rail Continued... “It would be great – but the problem is we don’t have the population and the Government don’t have the spare money to subsidise it.” The recent call for reintroducing the passenger service came from Tauranga’s David Dalton who, in a letter to The Weekend Sun, argued the Government has a duty to provide a transport system that does not rely on diminishing oil resources at high prices. He says the Government must provide KiwiRail with funding for a fleet of electrified railcars. Te Puna’s Jenny and Michael Grose believe a twice-weekly passenger service, which co uld be linked to an existing freight service, would be a boost to tourism and benefit all Western Bay residents.
Africa 2013
‘The service to Taneatua was cut in 1959 due to dwindling traffic, but continued between Te Puke and Auckland until 1967 when it was withdrawn. Jinty, who came to Tauranga in 1976, says the rail service, introduced in 1928, proved revolutionary. “It meant that people could actually go by land up to Auckland instead of having to go by sea. So that was a really significant part of the history of the railway.”
Declining numbers
Photograph from Tauranga City Libraries
Rail passenger numbers declined in the late-1920s, with New Zealanders turning towards travelling by road and air. After long periods of fluctuating fortunes for passenger rail, including a fleeting service through the Kaimai Tunnel from 1978, the Kaimai Express was Golden age introduced in 1991. It was a long-distance passenThe Government has been repeatedly criticised by ger train operated by the Tranz Scenic division of the Opposition for pouring too much money into KiwiRail, which was known as Tranz Rail at the time roads and not enough into rail. Yet, even during the of operation. ‘golden age’ of passenger train services, rail travel was Operating from December 9, 1991 – October 7, challenged by motor 2001, the passenger train transport with New service ran between the Zealanders quick to North Island cities of embrace cars. Today the Auckland and Tauranga reverse is happening and through Hamilton. rail passenger services are On June 26, 2001, looking more temptTranz Rail announced ing, says historian Jinty the closure of the GeyRorke. serland Express, Kaimai “It just seems to me Express and Waikato that if we want to get Connection passenger more cars off the road rail services. and stop accidents… The Kaimai Express then having people was labelled as being too able to move between uneconomic to continue 20s. our big cities by rail is and operated for a final anui, about 19 ng au M t M ne, a very efficient way for time on October 7, Railway engi tourism now.” 2001. Jinty says reinstating Jinty says the light rail rail passenger services would also provide a safer service mooted would move people from the subjourney for senior citizens. urbs into downtown Tauranga without there being “[Road travel has] got a lot more daunting for the parking problem. older people. I know a lot of people who won’t Passenger train services were the heart of networkdrive to Auckland, and certainly not within the ing New Zealand’s main city centres, she says. city, or on the motorway network. “It’s difficult to get to Tauranga from Auckland “Whereas, if you have a train that deposits you at airport without taking a bus back into central Auckthe bottom of Queen Street, with good connecting land and then getting a bus from Auckland down to buses, suddenly you would be able to go up to the Tauranga. Really there should be some better way of theatre, and to go shopping and that kind of thing. connecting the main centres.” Even to go to the art gallery.” Jinty says bringing back the passenger rail service During the 1920s, New Zealand passenger trains would be like bringing back a piece of Tauranga’s carried more than six million tonnes of freight and history. about 28 million passengers country-wide each “It was something that was particularly well used year. Railway travel was a familiar part of daily life. in the 1920s, 30s and 40s.” Trips were made between major centres for work Ex-farmer Colonel Allan Coster, who has lived in and social events. Children also took the railway to Tauranga for about 70 years, says he travelled by get to school. railway when his parents lived in Te Awamutu. In 1928, the Taneatua Express was established to “When there was no petrol you travelled by train. provide a link between Tauranga and Auckland. It It was a good service. A number of people used the travelled to Te Puke daily. By Zoe Hunter service.”
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