Currently Browsing: Waikato
$168m SH1 Waikato Expressway Stage Approved
Posted by Jon C in General, Waikato, motorwaysMar 5th, 2010 | 4 Comments
The sign off this afternoon for a $168.7 million funding package for the design and construction of the Te Rapa bypass as part of the SH1 Waikato expressway.
Of the total cost, the NZTA will provide $156.7 million. The balance will be provided by Hamilton City Council ($11.7 million) and Waikato District Council ($0.3 million).
Construction of the 7.2k section will be underway by September, meaning three sections of the Waikato Expressway will be underway by next year – Te Rapa, Rangiriri and Ngaruawahia.
The design and construction contract has been awarded to a three-way partnership...
Waikato Rail Petitioners Successful But Told To Leave
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoFeb 28th, 2010 | 1 CommentCampaigners for a Waikato-Auckland commuter rail link say they got strong public support as they collected signatures around Hamilton for their petition over the weekend – but politicians and local council security staff weren’t so supportive.
Campaign for Better Transport spokesman Jon Reeves says his group got positive support from Labour MP Sue Moroney but not the local National MP’s David Bennett and Tim MacIndoe “who seem to be only committed to building more roads and have absolutely no desire to get the trains running as soon as possible.”
Also the campaigners had problems with...
Bid For Waikato Commuter Rail Service Increases
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoFeb 26th, 2010 | 3 Comments
The battle to get a Waikato to Auckland commuter rail service is still alive.
The Campaign For Better Transport is out this weekend in the Waikato region gathering more petition signatures and support for a Hamilton to Auckland commuter rail service.
This includes having a stand at the Hamilton Gardens environment expo and being at the Frankton Markets, Hamilton Farmers Market, The Base, Te Rapa and Ngaruawahia market.
Over 3000 people have signed the petition, which is calling on the Government to immediately fund the rail services.
In the next few weeks, the petition will be given to local Hamilton...
Bus Culture ‘Taking Root” In Hamilton
Posted by Jon C in Waikato, busesFeb 8th, 2010 | No Comments
Hamilton bus services are showing growth, according to a report to today’s meeting of Waikato’s regional passenger transport committee.
“The bus culture is taking further root in Hamilton which has got to be good for unclogging our roads and making our main city more efficient,” said one councillor.
Hamilton’s bus services have always been put forward as a success story and a reason the regional council thinks that is where it’s energy should be, rather than spending it on rail.
The latest figures tabled today show significant annual growth in Hamilton bus passenger numbers...
Waikato-Auckland Rail Link Deemed “Not Viable”
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoDec 29th, 2009 | 1 CommentThe proposal for a Waikato to Auckland daily commuter service remains stalled.
KiwiRail chairman, Jim Bolger, says the Hamilton City Council has come to the conclusion that such a service is “not a viable proposition at present.”
In a letter to a Hamilton supporter of such a Waikato rail link, Mr Bolger says the council has, however, asked KiwiRail to “continue working on ways to reduce costs.”
The council had carried out a feasibility study into the proposal and KiwiRail had provided options and costings.
Mr Bolger said that KiwiRail supports the concept of a passenger...
Hamilton Gets Multi-Million Dollar Roading Present
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoDec 24th, 2009 | 2 Comments
A Hamilton to Auckland rail service link didn’t make it this year but Hamilton’s roading system has been given a multi-million dollar Christmas boost.
NZTA and the Hamilton City Council are to spend $7.5 million to fund a detailed investigation into Hamilton’s proposed Southern Links transport project.
The total construction cost of Southern Links has been tentatively estimated at $333 million and at this stage, is set to begin in the 2022/23 financial year .
The project involves 32 kilometres of new road including 20.7km of state highway and 11.3km of local roads in the city’s Peacockes...
Waikato Rail Stalled But Roading Leaps Ahead
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoDec 2nd, 2009 | No CommentsIronically, a few hours after a Hamilton meeting lamenting the lack of progress in getting a Waikato-Auckland rail link, roading progress in the area gets a big leap forward.
Hamilton Council announced work on the extension of Wairere Drive is being brought forward with council approving the early completion of a $7m major roundabout at Crosby/Tramway roads.
It has also approved a contract to complete the detailed design of the next section of the extension from this roundabout to Cambridge Road, parallel to Tramway Road.
These approvals follow recent NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) approval to provide...
Hamilton Rail Meeting Hears of “Missing” Official Report
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoDec 2nd, 2009 | No Comments
About 90 people attended last night’s Hamilton commuter rail campaign meeting, organised by the Campaign For Better Transport, including the CEO of Kiwirail and Labour and National MPs.
The meeting, in the Hamilton City Council rooms, was enthusiastic about a daily Waikato to Auckland train service, using refurbished Silver Fern railcars.
Campaign organiser Jon Reeves tells us what happened:
It was a well attended meeting. Ham. City Councillor Dave MacPhearson said it was the largest turnout at a Waikato Rail meeting to date. Approx 85/90 people attended which is high for a city one tenth...
Crucial Day For Waikato Rail Link Plan
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoDec 1st, 2009 | 2 Comments
HAMILTON CITY: Final race for the rail plan?
A public meeting to plead for the Waikato to Auckland rail service will be held in Hamilton tonight – even the arch MP critic of the idea is turning up to discuss it.
An excellent and vigorous campaign by the CBT, has got support from powerful allies like the ARC – and if you support the idea and can make it to Hamilton tonight, the organisers will be appreciative.
The organisers handed out 1500 flyers at the weekend alone, have been running a local radio ad campaign and there are now 25 CBT members in Hamilton, showing this isn’t...
Now Comes Eco City Auckland, Says Bob Harvey
Posted by Jon C in Waikato, electrificationNov 24th, 2009 | 1 Comment
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey, who has been a great fighter for rail (and managed great New Lynn and Henderson developments to happen in his area) hails today’s electrification decision as great for the environment.
He calls it is a step toward an eco city Auckland.
He is of course mayor of one of the world’s first declared eco cities, Waitakere and well deserves the accolades for that.
“This is great news for the West and for Auckland. Waitakere’s eco city vision is becoming regional.
“Electric rail is the future for Auckland. The idea of having a personal car is going out of date....
Petition Launched For Waikato Train Service
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoNov 22nd, 2009 | 2 Comments
Hamilton buses- where are the trains?CBT has launched a petition calling on the Government to fund the much sought after Hamilton to Auckland commuter train trial. Forms are here
Organiseer Jon Reeves, said : “We have become increasingly frustrated at the glacial speed of getting commuter trains from Hamilton to Auckland. This is despite over 80% of Hamilton ratepayers showing their support for the services in a recent Hamilton City Council survey, even if a small rate increase is required to run the trains.”
CBT already had huge support for a recent postcard campaign, which invited the...
Big Meeting To Get Waikato Rail Link Resolved
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoNov 9th, 2009 | 1 Comment
Great to see the CBT stepping up the fight once again for the stalled Waikato -Auckland rail link.
When can we visit Hamilton city by rail?
For now it seems as if local National MP David Bennett has won his argument that pouring money into the road expressway between Hamilton and Auckland is all that is needed – because there has been an unhealthy cone of silence for weeks about the plan to use the Silver Fern railcars to provide a daily rail link.
The group wants to get everyone in the room to thrash it out on December 1 – MPs, city councillors, Environment Waikato councillors (the...
Kiwirail Mothball Provincial Line -More Closures Ahead?
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoNov 8th, 2009 | 4 Comments
KiwiRail has decided to mothball the rail line between Taranaki and the Waikato.
Which way now for rail to Hamilton?
As a consequence of the closure, milk product sourced from Fonterra farms in Taranaki and bound for Tauranga will now travel hundreds of kilometres further, via Marton rather than directly from Stratford.
Jon Reeves, a spokesperson for the Campaign for Better Transport, says this could be the thin edge of the wedge, with more line closures to come. KiwiRail has recently carried out a review of its business and is due to deliver a strategic plan for the future of the business to the...
How Rail Can Compete With Domestic Airlines
Posted by Jon C in Overseas, WaikatoOct 29th, 2009 | 2 Comments
Hamilton's Go buses: But where are the trains?
As the Waikato rail plan disappears into a disturbing cone of silence, a Sydney group this morning put forward an argument for Sydney that is just as relevant for why we need an attractive Waikato to Auckland service.
While motorway enthusiasts insist an improved Waikato expressway is the only way people want to travel between the two cities, the Sydney group is arguing that the time is coming when, with bigger populations, motorists will be looking for an alternative.
In Sydney’s case, the group says some simple policy changes would be sufficient...
Hamilton Shows Up Auckland City Council (Surprise!)
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoOct 26th, 2009 | 6 Comments
While Auckland City increases its draconian parking powers to introduce night time restrictions in in the inner city, Hamilton City shows a refreshing attitude to attract people into the city.
An attitude that makes good marketing sense.
And I bet Hamilton City doesn’t need 50 marketing people like Auckland City to spin how to sell more parking restrictions to the suffering public.
Hamilton has introduced “free parking’ streets at the weekend to encourage people to shop and stop at cafes in the inner city and it works. And it promotes it in the streets to make a feature of it...
No Bennett-fit For Having Waikato Rail
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoOct 8th, 2009 | 5 Comments
The Waikato rail proposal is continuing to run into fierce opposition from a regional National MP who is arguing the road versus rail debate.
As we know, CBT has been running a very active campaign to get a decision on a daily commuter rail service between Hamilton and Auckland using the refurbished Silver Fern railcars.
But National MP David Bennett has made it clear that he is hugely in favour of the Waikato Expressway motorway and can’t see merit in a rail service.
Now he is replying to those who have written urging a commuter rail service by telling them that any potential rail service...
Waikato Expressway – Not Rail – Wins as Public Transport Funding Diverted
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoSep 7th, 2009 | 7 Comments
It’s a sad day for the Waikato commuter rail campaign. Motorways, namely the Waikato expressway, have won the day.
The Government has pulled the rug from underneath plans to increase public transport in the Waikato region, with the New Zealand Transport Agency informing the Waikato Regional Passenger Transport Committee today that it would face a government funding freeze in two out of the next three years.
The funding previously destined for public transport in the region is being “redirected” towards building new roads, including the Waikato Expressway. NZTA has informed the region...
Waikato Rail Plan Moves One More cm Along The Track – Maybe
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoSep 2nd, 2009 | No Comments
Why does everything to do with rail projects take so long? I’m starting to wonder whether this is just a NZ thing?
Auckland’s electric rail saga is bad enough – but by now, the proposed daily resurrected Waikato – Auckland service should have been cut and dried.
Dragging the tail has been the regional council, Environment Waikato. That body’s members seem to match the mood of the government by being very pro- cars despite its deceptive greenie name for the body. They have long argued that Hamilton has a decent bus service so why would you resurrect the rail.
Finally,...
Hamilton’s Secret Underground Rail Station (+Photos)
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoAug 28th, 2009 | 5 Comments
Is this an outtake from those underground train scenes in The Matrix or something from a zombie movie at the scene of where flesh-eating creatures have been living for years?
Neither, actually but something far more exciting.
As pressure grows for a Waikato-Auckland train service, here’s where the Hamilton stop should be.
Right under the Centrepoint shopping centre right smack dab in the middle of Hamilton’s central city.
It’s a no-brainer. These photos show what was Hamilton Central station but as you can see it’s not been in use since 1995 as a passenger train station....
Political Storm Hits Decision On Waikato Rail
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoAug 3rd, 2009 | 5 Comments
A final decision on whether a Waikato-Auckland train service gets the green light will happen on Wednesday week – but a National MP says such a service is a “waste of time.”
KiwiRail is proposing a trial Hamilton-Auckland weekday service but is working out final costings. It will present the bill to the Hamilton City Council then for a final vote.(There’s already a suggestion that besides the funding needed, the proposed $24 fare will still not be high enough).
National MP David Bennett is reported as saying the priority is the Waikato Expressway which the government is...
Newspaper’s Silly Rant About Trains
Posted by Jon C in General, WaikatoJun 30th, 2009 | 3 Comments
Thank goodness newspapers no longer hold much of a sway in communities. Papers’ waning relevancy in today’s digital age was painfully obvious with Friday’s early morning Michael Jackson story, missed by morning papers and thoroughly Twittered and covered online and on radio and TV by the time they could even mention it for the first time on Saturday morning. Yet papers still arrogantly believe they are the word of God locally writing anonymous sermons from the mount in a barely read area called Editorial.
The Waikato Times, which is actually not a bad provincial paper, has written...
Waikato’s Regional Council Says No To Funding Hamilton Rail
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoJun 24th, 2009 | No Comments
Last night’s public meeting in Hamilton showed strong support for the proposed Hamilton to Auckland weekday rail service with about 60 residents and business people attending. But in spite of strong support from the audience, Environment Waikato’s representative said it refuses to fund the service.
The Campaign For Better Transport held the public meeting to emphasise the urgency of getting the deal through as the proposed option to use the Silver Fern railcars for the service would be otherwise lost.
The railcars, owned by KiwiRail, become available for use, anywhere in the country...
Hamilton Rail Campaign Takes To The Airwaves
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoJun 19th, 2009 | No Comments
Here is the radio commercial advertising Tuesday’s Hamilton public meeting on the Waikato – Auckland rail link.
Love the old tram-sounding ding ding of the bell!
Good on the CBT for running radio ads and getting the community excited and so involved.
Let’s hope it’s a success.
Listen below – you may need QuickTime
CBT Tues Ham 015604518
Reminder the meeting is next Tuesday 23rd June, 7:30pm – 9pm, Reception Lounge, Hamilton City Council, Garden Place Speakers include Jon Reeves – CBT, Dave McPherson – HCC Councillor,Jacqui Graham – WISE Group.
A big...
Last Push for the Hamilton Rail Service
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoJun 17th, 2009 | No Comments
Maybe we should all hire a train for the night of the 23rd to get to Hamilton to help get the Hamilton rail service over the last piece of line!
The Hamilton City Council should make its final decision at a meeting on June 24.
The night before Campaign for Better Transport is holding a public meeting. here are the details:
23rd June, 7:30pm – 9pm, Reception Lounge, Hamilton City Council, Garden Place
Speakers: Jon Reeves – CBT, Dave McPherson – HCC Councillor,Jacqui Graham – WISE Group.
Hamilton’s Mayor Bob Simcock is quoted in the Waikato Times as saying...
Will Auckland Torpedo Hamilton Rail Plan?
Posted by Jon C in WaikatoJun 12th, 2009 | 1 Comment
Waikato’s regional council, Environment Waikato, next week discusses a final consultant’s report which puts up a strong case for a weekday Hamilton to Auckland commuter Silver Fern railcar link starting next month.
But there is an unexpected major hitch to the plan – access through Auckland. ARTA’s opposition – Newmarket too busy while work is being done and too many Auckland suburban trains using the route at peak times – means “a realistic commuter service can not be run from Hamilton.”
It would be such a heavy blow. The excellent 33-page report...
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I began this as a diary about catching an Auckland train & to create an online record of rail & motorway development. Now it's called AKT as it covers news & views from rail to motorways, the Auckland harbour crossing debate & cycle trails.
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