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The Future Is Rail

@thefutureisrail.bsky.social
640 followers 2 following 17 posts

Let's build an inter-regional passenger rail network in Aotearoa NZ for people & our planet. #TheFutureIsRail #SaveOurTrains

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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 26/03/2024
There are only a few days left to make your submission to the government's disastrous transport plan. Don't know where to start? We can help! 📑 We've developed a guide with 5, 15 and 30+min options 🎉 We're hosting online 'Submission parties' this week Everything is here: bit.ly/transport-gps #nzpol
bit.ly
2024-04-02: Submit on National's Transport General Policy Statement
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 25/03/2024
RNZ points out that each kilometre of the Waikato Expressway cost nearly as much to build as Te Huia's entire whole FIVE YEAR operational budget. #nzpol #kikorangi www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
rnz.co.nz
How does Te Huia's subsidy compare to roads?
There is no doubt the train service between Auckland and Hamilton is highly subsidised - but roads are too, a researcher says.
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 18/03/2024
We’ve teamed up with climate & transport advocates around the motu to help NZers have a say on the government’s disastrous draft transport plan (GPS 2024). On our new #transport4all site, you'll find lots of actions you can take, even if you can only spare 5 min transport4all.org.nz
transport4all.org.nz
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Laurie Winkless @lauriewinkless.bsky.social · 18/03/2024
If you're in Wellington and care about the future of transport in Aotearoa, please come to Parliament TOMORROW (Tues 19 Mar) at 5pm. The draft plan is a disaster for everyone - including motorists. We need to do everything we can to stop it becoming reality transport4all.org.nz/rally #nzpol
transport4all.org.nz
Rally
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Laurie Winkless @lauriewinkless.bsky.social · 18/03/2024
Working with orgs like Climate Club NZ & Women in Urbanism, we @thefutureisrail.bsky.social have developed resources like a submission guide, with actions you can take in 5-min, 15-min & 30+min. Please use your voice before 2 April (Tuesday after Easter)! #nzpol transport4all.org.nz/submission-g...
transport4all.org.nz
Submission Guide
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Laurie Winkless @lauriewinkless.bsky.social · 18/03/2024
Team. If you're one of the millions of NZers who use public transport, cycleways or footpaths (or you care about those who do), PLEASE consider supporting our new campaign #transport4all. It's in response to the govt's disastrous land transport draft that is currently open to submissions #nzpol
a collection of icons showing issues with roads (e.g. orange road cones, pollution etc) vs icons highlighting public transport (e.g. trains, bikes, buses). The overlaid text reads "There'd be less of this if there was more of this"
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Jessica de Heij @jdeheij.bsky.social · 20/02/2024
"Our findings show that for many who live in public housing, access to reduced fares on public transport reduces their financial stress, gives them the ability to get to places they need, removes anxiety, and improves their wellbeing and social contact."
odt.co.nz
Cheaper buses helped those in 'transport poverty'
Cheaper public transport in Christchurch meant more people on lower incomes had more money for everyday essentials, including food, a new study...
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 21/02/2024
$46 billion for roads, while trains, buses, and ferries face cuts and underfunding. That is not a balanced transport policy. It's ideology, not policy. Our economy, environment, and social cohesion will pay the price. #nz www.newshub.co.nz/home/politic...
newshub.co.nz
Nicola Willis says Government committed to coalition transport projects despite report showing they could cost double  | Newshub
She denied the new estimates had dented National's economic credibility.
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 11/01/2024
Great to see our very own Dave Macpherson quoted in this article 👏👏👏 #nzpol www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
rnz.co.nz
New Zealand by train listed as fourth best place in world by The New York Times
The New York Times has voted New Zealand by train as the fourth best place to visit this year in the iconic '52 places' list.
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Laurie Winkless @lauriewinkless.bsky.social · 15/12/2023
Statement in response to the Interislander ferries debacle from @thefutureisrail.bsky.social www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO23...
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 13/12/2023
Pulling on the Interislander thread could unravel our national rail network. So, new ferries must be rail enabled. Otherwise the implications for employment, economic growth, and climate action are unfathomable. www.stuff.co.nz/travel/trave...
stuff.co.nz
What will happen to Interislander ferries without Government funding?
Two new ferries had been expected to replace the ageing fleet, but the project would now be wound down.
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 20/11/2023
Our friends at GenZero are  fighting to keep Auckland's light rail on the agenda of the new incoming government. To show your support, please consider signing their petition petitions.parliament.nz/5cff9d85-b36...
petitions.parliament.nz
Petitions - New Zealand Parliament
Petitions are addressed to the House of Representatives and ask that the House do something about a policy or law, or put right a local or private concern.
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Laurie Winkless @lauriewinkless.bsky.social · 20/11/2023
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Twelve billionaires’ climate emissions outpollute 2.1m homes, analysis finds
Research shows impact from lifestyles and investments of likes of Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Elon Musk
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 03/09/2023
The 'Golden Triangle' of Auckland, Waikato & the Bay of Plenty (BOP) is home to over 50% of NZ's population, and that's expected to rise in the coming decades. Calls for passenger rail connections between the regions are getting louder. Read Lindsey's report from the BOP regional transport committee
railconference.info
Strong support from the BOP Regional Transport Committee for Tauranga to Hamilton + Auckland passeng...
By Lindsey Horne
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 29/08/2023
It's annoying when people say they once saw a bus/train/cycleway with only a few people on it & use that as an excuse not to invest in them. Do they say the same about roads?
And empty road stretches off into the distance under a cloudy skyAnother example of an empty NZ road. This one in a hilly areaA photo of a new, empty expressway, taken from inside a train
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 29/08/2023
Te Huia the only train service sanctioned over 'signal passed at danger' events
rnz.co.nz
Te Huia the only train service sanctioned over 'signal passed at danger' events
Almost 30 other trains - including eight passenger services - also broke the rules recently, but were not blocked from running services.
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 28/08/2023
New Zealanders want trains! Along with Women in Urbanism we asked NZers to share their stories of what long distance trains meant to them and we got hundreds of responses. Here's just a small sample
When I was a child in the 1990s
the family would regularly take
the train from Kapiti to Hawkes'
Bay, where we had a holiday
property. We would meet my
Dad who had driven up by
himself at Waipukurau station for
the final drive. I always enjoyed
the train much more than the car
journey, which was often
nauseating and scary.
30-34 Female, WellingtonI went from Christchurch to
Greymouth on the Trans Alpine on
my first ever solo bike packing
journey.
It allowed me to solo travel and
feel safe.
I also felt like I would have never
visited the West Coast because I'm
not a confident driver crossing the
Pass.
35-39 Female, WellingtonWe took our daughter on the TranzAlpine, who was 8yo at the time. For her it was a wonderful trip, somewhere she could move between carriages and enjoy the open-air viewing area.
Having recently made the same journey by car, I gazed jealously at the train as it glided by.
This car is a squeeze, with carefully planned rest stops and frequent arguments.
45-49 Female, Canterbury
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 24/08/2023
Great to see our friend Anthonie Tonnon featured here www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-ch...
nzherald.co.nz
Turning the tide for public transport
Better Whanganui public transport is a passion for professional musician Anthonie Tonnon.
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The Future Is Rail @thefutureisrail.bsky.social · 22/08/2023
"Clearly, roads need to be maintained, and New Zealand’s road network has to be made more resilient to adverse weather impacts. But expanding road capacity at the expense of a more efficient rail system and improved public transport is a recipe for increasing emissions."
theconversation.com
Slow train coming: only a genuine shift to rail will put NZ on track to reduce emissions
Both major parties are promising major road projects this election. Meanwhile, the potential for passenger and freight rail to help meet the country’s climate goals seems stuck at the station.
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