Latest news with #Genter
1News
4 days ago
- Politics
- 1News
Greens want passenger trains between Auckland and Tauranga
The Green Party is calling on the Government to extend the Auckland-Hamilton passenger rail network to Tauranga. However, Bay of Plenty Regional Council's chairman said now was not the time for regional passenger rail. Green Party transport spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter was in Tauranga on Thursday launching a petition urging Minister of Rail Winston Peters to "Restore Regional Rail". Te Huia, the Hamilton to Auckland passenger rail link, had proven the demand for the service, she said. "It's time to extend that service to the people of Tauranga and some of the smaller towns in between." Extending the service could be done "relatively quickly and at an affordable cost," with operating costs of $10 million over the first four years, Genter said. Last week, Peters threw his support behind a Sunday service for Te Huia, so it made sense for him to look at extending the service to Tauranga, she said. "Aotearoa was once linked up by rail services and bus services that were affordable and frequent, and they linked our major centres, and they enabled people to get to even rural parts of our beautiful country. "It's time to get our rail network back on track." The party's plan would require new stations in Tauranga, Morrinsville and Waharoa but could be run with existing trains. It would also need passing loops and full double-tracking, including through the Whangamarino Swamp in Waikato, to speed up the service. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Hulk Hogan dies, sentencing for a New Zealander who assaulted two airline stewards, and a big accolade for Te Papa. (Source: 1News) The plan stated the initial proposal could be up and running in the next two years. The Greens' full plan was costed at $3.3 billion, with stage two including additional trains for extra services in peak conditions, station refurbishments, a depot in Waikato and duplication of the single track near Meremere rolled out over the next five to 10 years. These improvements would make a trip between Tauranga and Auckland take two-and-a-half hours, the plan stated. Asked if passenger rail would clash with the freight trains, Genter said the initial proposal would be a couple of services a day and there was capacity on the line for that. Stage two would increase network capacity and extend electrification, which would benefit passengers and freight, she said. "It makes sense to make use of our existing rail lines for those passenger services." Passenger rail between Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland was discontinued in 2001 because of low patronage and high operating costs. Asked if it would be different this time, Genter said everywhere that rail was invested in, patronage was growing. "The privatisation of the rail network in the [1990s] led to underinvestment and a decline, but now rail patronage is growing across the world – it's what people want. "Now is the perfect time to use the track we already have and revitalise our passenger rail network." Stage two would increase network capacity and extend electrification, which would benefit passengers and freight, she said. "It makes sense to make use of our existing rail lines for those passenger services." Passenger rail between Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland was discontinued in 2001 because of low patronage and high operating costs. Asked if it would be different this time, Genter said everywhere that rail was invested in, patronage was growing. "The privatisation of the rail network in the [1990s] led to underinvestment and a decline, but now rail patronage is growing across the world – it's what people want. "Now is the perfect time to use the track we already have and revitalise our passenger rail network." Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale was "conditionally supportive" of a Tauranga to Auckland passenger rail service. A transit time of two-and-a-half hours from Tauranga to Auckland needed to be resolved to make it an "attractive option", he said. The service would also need to deliver value for money, Drysdale said. He also had "questions" about the Kaimai Tunnel and freight impacts. "From a Tauranga perspective, I would like to see some options of utilising our local rail network and finding a way to connect passengers from the Mount, Te Puke/Pāpāmoa and Ōmokoroa/Te Puna. 'Considering we have trains running through our city centre, the availability of passenger services could make a huge difference to our public transport system.' Genter said they would be open to looking at passenger rail within Tauranga. "Tauranga absolutely needs more passenger transport options." Traffic was "so bad" in Tauranga and it was not from a lack of roads, she said. "You can build as many highways as you want, the traffic is only going to get worse over time and transport costs will escalate." The petition also called for the overnight rail service between Auckland and Wellington to be reinstated, and for the return of the Southerner connection between Christchurch and Dunedin. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
El Dorado residents picking up the pieces following Tuesday's flash floods
EL DORADO, Kan. (KSNW) – Heavy rain across south central Kansas on Tuesday sent some rivers and creeks out of their banks and into homes. In El Dorado, flash floods turned roads into rivers, and around 50 El Dorado residents into evacuees. Hunter Genter had to wade through chest-high waters to reach the boat he used to evacuate himself and his two dogs. 'Walked down the road in about water up to here. Came in here, got my little boat, loaded up the dogs and had to walk them back up inside the boat,' Genter said. The shed near his house took on around 10 inches of water, still visible on the sheet rock the next day. He estimates the damages at around $1,000. Sedgwick County Zoo welcomes third baby elephant While Genter's house was spared, others, like Richard and Cecilia Ralls weren't so lucky. 'When you walk in there, and you see some things are destroyed, you know, whatever, especially the photographs, you can't replace those,' Richard said. 'You go into, do I dare say, survival mode? I mean, it's because you've got to do something, you've got to save whatever you can save.' In the rush to escape the rapidly rising waters, they pulled out what they could. With so many possessions and scattered memories left out to dry, the things weren't really what mattered to them. 'It's only stuff. The pets, the people, that's what you've got to worry about,' he said. They anticipate a few more days of cleanup before things return to normal. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
