By Weston Kirton After a long campaign, celebrating the inclusion once again of a stop at Taumarunui by the Northern Explorer. Credit: Paul Wheatcroft Reliable, affordable, public transport solutions are crucial for the wellbeing of rural communities. Unlike urban areas where multiple modes of transportation are readily available, rural areas often have limited or no access to buses, trains, or other forms of public transit. This lack of options can result in significant difficulties for individuals who rely on public transportation as their primary means of travel. Furthermore, the long travel distances characteristic of rural areas poses additional obstacles for those without access to private vehicles. The tracks are there but the trains are missing in many regions. Credit James Llewellyn Limited or non-existent public transportation options make it difficult to access employment opportunities, educational institutions, medical facilities, and social services. These challenges not only affect individuals but also impact the overall development and sustainability of these communities. Understanding the importance of reliable public transport in rural areas is crucial to bridging these gaps and fostering inclusive communities. The trains do stop but are infrequent and expensive. Credit: Paul Wheatcroft Successive governments have stated their belief that building successful and more resilient regions is the key to building a prosperous nation. This has seen the funding of regional development programmes to identify and unlock the big economic opportunities. A key enabler critical to the realization of these opportunities is the need for the infrastructure to connect people, goods, services, and markets. Reliable public transport is a critical part of this infrastructure that is often overlooked. Moreover, reliable public transport plays a critical role in sustainable development efforts. By providing viable alternatives to private vehicles, it helps reduce traffic congestion, lower carbon emissions, and mitigate environmental impacts associated with individual car ownership. It also contributes to economic growth by facilitating commuting for work purposes and enabling businesses to reach wider markets. Good quality, affordable, trains and coaches are important in providing rural public transport networks The need for reliable public transport in rural areas goes beyond mere convenience; it is a matter of equity and social justice. Accessible transportation ensures that everyone has equal opportunities to participate fully in society regardless of their geographical location. It promotes social cohesion by connecting individuals with essential resources, fostering community engagement, and reducing isolation. Addressing rural public transport challenges requires innovative solutions that take into account the unique needs and circumstances of rural communities. It involves investing in infrastructure development that improves connectivity while considering cost-effective approaches that optimize resources. Furthermore, enhancing public transportation infrastructure can unlock economic potential by connecting rural communities with urban centers. Trains carrying bikes in Europe. An ideal way to reach Ohakune to enjoy the many bike trails. Credit: Anthony Cross By recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by rural communities in accessing public transportation, we can work towards creating inclusive solutions that enhance mobility options and improve quality of life for all residents regardless of their geographic location. Government policies and funding play a crucial role in addressing the public transport issues faced by rural communities. Policymakers need to be working towards creating inclusive transportation systems that benefit all members of society regardless of their geographic location. By implementing comprehensive policies and allocating adequate funding, governments can address public transport issues effectively in rural communities. This not only enhances connectivity but also contributes to economic development, social inclusion, and overall well-being of these regions. Weston Kirton is the Mayor of Ruapehu District Council Grace Burnard, Head Girl and Joshua Simons, Head Boy, Ruapehu College and Corbin O'Shannessey, Head Boy, Taumarunui High School who presented at The Future is Rail Conference. Credit: Richard Young.
7 Comments
Keith Strode-Penny
8/7/2023 12:51:30 am
The key aspect that Weston has touched upon, is the role of passenger transport in connecting regional and rural communities with opportunities in larger centres of employment, education, social and recreational activities, and health services. This is a matter of equity, social justice and social cohesion.
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Ross Clark
8/7/2023 06:20:27 am
Agreed - to put a context on things, the town has a service with Intercity five days/week out of seven to Hamilton and PM (leaves in the afternoon) and a separate Monday to Friday "hospital shuttle" to Hamilton. This leaves in the morning, returns in the afternoon. The town could do with more, quite apart from trains.
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Keith Strode-Penny
8/8/2023 01:17:03 am
To put further context on things, there has been $65 billion worth of primarily roading projects announced over the last week. By any of the traditional BCR measures, the likely ratio for these projects is such that for every $10 spent, the benefit may be around $1.
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Ross Clark
8/8/2023 03:23:16 am
Keith - thanx very much for pointing out the big fares increase after 1975, which had escaped my attention. Andre's history doesn't mention this, or the resulting cut in demand (about half, according to the data extant in the public domain; the system was handling 1.84m inter-urban passengers in 1970, but this had fallen to 1m passengers by 1980; and 618,000 passengers by 1990).
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Keith Strode-Penny
8/9/2023 12:34:17 am
Thank you Ross for raising some good points and solid discussion. Yes there are some decisions to be made on how to prioritize.
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Keith Strode-Penny
8/9/2023 02:06:19 am
A few more comments:
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Ross Clark
8/9/2023 08:50:02 pm
Thank you, and after some more thinking of my own. Taumarunui has two coaches/day to Hamilton and another to Palmerston North, and if the council thought that they needed another daily return to PN, they could ask Horizons MW to organise it. I'm pointing this out because his request for more connectivity runs the risk of being brushed off by s/o pointing out that the area already has connectivity ... merely not the sort that anyone actually likes using.
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