Rail axing grim news for regions

By SCOTT MacLEOD and ANNE BESTON

Tranz Rail will scrap three long-distance train services in the upper North Island as part of a deal to sell its public transport arm.

The rail operator yesterday revealed it had signed a tentative deal to sell Tranz Scenic and other services to West Coast Railway of Australia.

But three loss-making services between Auckland and other cities are not included in the deal: the Waikato Connection to Hamilton, the Geyserland Express to Rotorua and the Kaimai Express to Tauranga.

The news was greeted with dismay in the regional cities, where there was much talk about the poor state of Tranz Rail services, a lack of advertising and a need for a national strategy for passenger rail transport.

Mayors hoped that a new operator could restore services.

Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall said there was huge potential for a tourist train service to his city.

He would try to convince West Coast Railway to do a proper job.

"A ginormous increase in patronage is possible, but I've been critical for years of the poor rolling stock being used and the lack of marketing," said Mr Hall.

Hamilton mayor Russ Rimmington said losing the Waikato Connection was bad news, and showed that the decisions of past Governments to sell core assets were tragic.

Tranz Rail was a freight company with little interest in passengers, and it was time for the Government to work on a national strategy for rail, he said.

Tauranga mayor Noel Pope was more philosophical. The Kaimai Express was being used by only 30 people a trip, and no operator could make money with that patronage, he said.

But he hoped his growing region would be more attractive for rail operators in three or four years.

Geyserland staff were yesterday in limbo. Terry McQuillan, a train driver for 28 years, was angry at the chopping of the service and the sale.

"I'll probably get work on other runs but they should never have privatised the damn thing. Every sleeper and every piece of rail has been paid for by the taxpayer over a long period of time."

Cabin crew member Fiona Thomas said her job was the best she had had and Tranz Rail was a wonderful employer.

"We are really unsure of what will happen. I'm not ready to give up my job yet. You meet great people and the pay's not bad."

She said yesterday's patronage - 22 seats taken out of 56 - was normal for this time of year.

Passenger Philip Blair, a 35-year-old storeman, said the service needed a facelift, not the chop.

Tranz Rail managing director Michael Beard said it was hard to make people use the Kaimai service when a car could drive the route 90 minutes quicker.