Comments on: Submit to save the Stratford to Okahukura Rail Line http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/ hopping along the corridors of power Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:39:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Paul Carter http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-131229 Paul Carter Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:11:13 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-131229 I believe that the idea of Cycle ways is great,however we need to keep and indeed reopen lines such as the Stratford Okahukura line. Not much use making an old rail line a cycle way. Tourists both domestic and foreign could be encouraged to use lines such as the Northland line ( under threat at present ) the Stratford line and indeed the disused Rotorua line for access to remote areas for recreation and eco tourism, given suitable passenger services. Thereby creating both employment and revenue in isolated areas. Government needs to be pushed to connect the link with Marsden Point from Oakleigh thereby taking several hundred trucks off the Kaikohe ( once a railhead ) to Marsden Point roading system.As blogs above have pointed out once closed lines are very expensive to reopen. The argument that Kiwirail uses, that stolen sleepers and rail make reopening prohibitive is rubbish. Sleepers need replacing as they rot in the ground whether being used or not and the rail stolen on Rotorua line was older light weight rail anyway laid from other lines once past serviceable for heavily trafficed lines.

I believe that the idea of Cycle ways is great,however we need to keep and indeed reopen lines such as the Stratford Okahukura line. Not much use making an old rail line a cycle way. Tourists both domestic and foreign could be encouraged to use lines such as the Northland line ( under threat at present ) the Stratford line and indeed the disused Rotorua line for access to remote areas for recreation and eco tourism, given suitable passenger services. Thereby creating both employment and revenue in isolated areas. Government needs to be pushed to connect the link with Marsden Point from Oakleigh thereby taking several hundred trucks off the Kaikohe ( once a railhead ) to Marsden Point roading system.As blogs above have pointed out once closed lines are very expensive to reopen. The argument that Kiwirail uses, that stolen sleepers and rail make reopening prohibitive is rubbish. Sleepers need replacing as they rot in the ground whether being used or not and the rail stolen on Rotorua line was older light weight rail anyway laid from other lines once past serviceable for heavily trafficed lines.

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]]> By: Michael O'Leary http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-106404 Michael O'Leary Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:31:54 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-106404 As well as putting the 6 reasons on the Green Party submission regarding the closure of the Ohakura railway line I added Kia ora Kevin Ramshaw, any rail line closure is a concern, below are some reasons for not closing the Ohakura line, and these reasons should be considered when making future decisions on other lines throughout New Zealand. Do roads suffer the same threat of closure when they have major disasters happen to them? I think not, although I am sure some of the repair bills to roading when the similar situations occur are equally if not more prohibitive than equivalent rail ones. As a senior rail official it is your duty to uphold the virtue and integrity of the rail network, not to think of the most negative response to a situation, no matter who your political masters are at any given time. Michael O'Leary, Paekakariki

As well as putting the 6 reasons on the Green Party submission regarding the closure of the Ohakura railway line I added

Kia ora Kevin Ramshaw,

any rail line closure is a concern, below are some reasons for not closing the Ohakura line, and these reasons should be considered when making future decisions on other lines throughout New Zealand. Do roads suffer the same threat of closure when they have major disasters happen to them? I think not, although I am sure some of the repair bills to roading when the similar situations occur are equally if not more prohibitive than equivalent rail ones. As a senior rail official it is your duty to uphold the virtue and integrity of the rail network, not to think of the most negative response to a situation, no matter who your political masters are at any given time.

Michael O’Leary, Paekakariki

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]]> By: Trevor29 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105225 Trevor29 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:10:44 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105225 I would add safety - rail causes fewer accidents per tonne-kilometer than road. However I don't have access to any figures to back this up. Trevor.

I would add safety – rail causes fewer accidents per tonne-kilometer than road. However I don’t have access to any figures to back this up.

Trevor.

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]]> By: katie http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105167 katie Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:51:59 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105167 I've visited friends & family members who live on the surf coast highway - anything that gives/keeps rail transport access in this area will improve the capacity of the region to keep inhabitants. Road transit of goods makes the road very dangerous for cyclists; a family member who regularly biked to work in Wellington, gave up the shorter commute into New Plymouth because the road is so narrow & the trucks go past at high speed, causing eddies that can suck a cyclist into the path of the next truck travelling behind.

I’ve visited friends & family members who live on the surf coast highway – anything that gives/keeps rail transport access in this area will improve the capacity of the region to keep inhabitants.

Road transit of goods makes the road very dangerous for cyclists; a family member who regularly biked to work in Wellington, gave up the shorter commute into New Plymouth because the road is so narrow & the trucks go past at high speed, causing eddies that can suck a cyclist into the path of the next truck travelling behind.

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]]> By: Kermit http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105164 Kermit Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:46:03 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105164 big bro. I appreciate that comprehension is not your strong suit. Please re-read my last post.

big bro. I appreciate that comprehension is not your strong suit. Please re-read my last post.

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]]> By: big bro http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105144 big bro Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:55:01 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105144 Kermit Why do we want more rail links when they are not viable?

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]]> By: ian newcombe http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105143 ian newcombe Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:20:50 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105143 This is the problem with private enterprise that we see over and over again. Big business never takes into account social cost or social purpose and without a social cost or purpose what is the justification for the business existing in the first place ? It's all about the private sector cutting down our options and forcing us into cars and trucks Save the Rail !
This is the problem with private enterprise that we see over and over again.

Big business never takes into account social cost or social purpose and without a social cost or purpose what is the justification for the business existing in the first place ?

It’s all about the private sector cutting down our options and forcing us into cars and trucks

Save the Rail !

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]]> By: Kermit http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105142 Kermit Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:11:12 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105142 We need to improve rail links, not remove them. From a visit to Taranaki last year we were staggered by the number of trucks on the road at all hours. The prospect of there being even more with the closing of another rail line does not make sense. We need to find ways of making the truck/rail combination more viable and use rail for long haul frieght.
We need to improve rail links, not remove them. From a visit to Taranaki last year we were staggered by the number of trucks on the road at all hours. The prospect of there being even more with the closing of another rail line does not make sense. We need to find ways of making the truck/rail combination more viable and use rail for long haul frieght.

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]]> By: phil u http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105141 phil u Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:47:33 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105141 wow..!..no general debate thread since 5th feb.. is that a new record..? does anyone know..? phil(whoar.co.nz)

wow..!..no general debate thread since 5th feb..

is that a new record..?

does anyone know..?

phil(whoar.co.nz)

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]]> By: big bro http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105140 big bro Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:37:57 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105140 If it is losing money then close it and close it NOW.

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]]> By: frog http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105137 frog Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:32:59 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105137 Thanks for this. I emailed Kiwirail and asked who the best person to send submissions to was and they responded saying email Ruth. I think either address will be fine really.

Thanks for this. I emailed Kiwirail and asked who the best person to send submissions to was and they responded saying email Ruth.

I think either address will be fine really.

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]]> By: 5078934tdfgj http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105121 5078934tdfgj Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:45:35 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105121 May I suggest a different approach. Perhaps the way to keep the line open is to convince the government that the line is worth keeping for their own reasons. Focus on reasons why they would want to keep the line open rather than why you would. Convincing using green party reasoning will likely not work. There are reasons for keeping the line relevant to the present governments interest: Coal. There is a large undeveloped coal resource around and reasonably near the railway line, including an area which has been previously mined near Ohura which is very close to the railway. Most coal is carried by rail in New Zealand, as it is the best way to do so. Solid Energy is already in the area drilling for coal seam gas, it is only logical to conclude that they might be interested in the coal as well. Possibly even the gas could be carried by rail, I am aware that LPG (or some form of gas) is already carried by rail. Iron sands mining. There is interest from mining companies in mining iron sands in the Tarnaki region as well as building a steel mill. Although the steel mill would likely be coastal much like Glenbrook and not require rail for the actual iron sands it would require a way to bring in coal (maybe from the Huntly mines, this is where Glenbrook gets its coal), as well as send out steel. It might be of interest to a steel company to export through a port other than New Plymouth, as Fonterra has done with its dairy products, which leads me to the next topic. Port reform. The global trend is towards fewer and larger ports being visited by fewer and larger ships. The port at New Plymouth might close, with freight needing to be railed in from Auckland or Tauranga or even Marsden Point as those three ports are the most likely ones to become the main port for the north island.
May I suggest a different approach. Perhaps the way to keep the line open is to convince the government that the line is worth keeping for their own reasons. Focus on reasons why they would want to keep the line open rather than why you would. Convincing using green party reasoning will likely not work. There are reasons for keeping the line relevant to the present governments interest:

Coal. There is a large undeveloped coal resource around and reasonably near the railway line, including an area which has been previously mined near Ohura which is very close to the railway. Most coal is carried by rail in New Zealand, as it is the best way to do so. Solid Energy is already in the area drilling for coal seam gas, it is only logical to conclude that they might be interested in the coal as well. Possibly even the gas could be carried by rail, I am aware that LPG (or some form of gas) is already carried by rail.

Iron sands mining. There is interest from mining companies in mining iron sands in the Tarnaki region as well as building a steel mill. Although the steel mill would likely be coastal much like Glenbrook and not require rail for the actual iron sands it would require a way to bring in coal (maybe from the Huntly mines, this is where Glenbrook gets its coal), as well as send out steel. It might be of interest to a steel company to export through a port other than New Plymouth, as Fonterra has done with its dairy products, which leads me to the next topic.

Port reform. The global trend is towards fewer and larger ports being visited by fewer and larger ships. The port at New Plymouth might close, with freight needing to be railed in from Auckland or Tauranga or even Marsden Point as those three ports are the most likely ones to become the main port for the north island.

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]]> By: john-ston http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105120 john-ston Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:43:48 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105120 "Any other reasons you can think of?" I can think of two reasons - coal and logs; there are rumours that coal mining might start up again near Ohura, and there is apparently a large amount of forestry products that are due to be brought to market anytime soon. Coal and logs are two items which are very rail friendly.
“Any other reasons you can think of?”

I can think of two reasons – coal and logs; there are rumours that coal mining might start up again near Ohura, and there is apparently a large amount of forestry products that are due to be brought to market anytime soon. Coal and logs are two items which are very rail friendly.

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]]> By: 5078934tdfgj http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105105 5078934tdfgj Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:20:38 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105105 Oops, looks like I have terrible reading comprehension. Guess thats what happens when I post before I finish reading.

Oops, looks like I have terrible reading comprehension. Guess thats what happens when I post before I finish reading.

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]]> By: 5078934tdfgj http://blog.greens.org.nz/2010/02/10/submit-to-save-the-stratford-to-okahukura-rail-line/#comment-105100 5078934tdfgj Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:34:51 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=9429#comment-105100 It has been suggested by a poster on the bettertransport.org.nz message board to email to Kevin Ramshaw at KiwiRail kevin.ramshaw@kiwirail.co.nz I don't think there is any official channel which to send submissions to, which makes this difficult. Also apprently last chance is this friday before submissions close.
It has been suggested by a poster on the bettertransport.org.nz message board to email to Kevin Ramshaw at KiwiRail kevin.ramshaw@kiwirail.co.nz

I don’t think there is any official channel which to send submissions to, which makes this difficult. Also apprently last chance is this friday before submissions close.

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