Rapid rail plan for Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland rubbished by Transport Minister Simon Bridges

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says Labour's plan for rapid passenger rail between Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland would take more than 4.5 hours compared to 2.5 hours by car. Photo / Greg Bowker

Labour's policy to roll out rapid passenger rail between Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland has been rubbished by Transport Minister Simon Bridges as unrealistic and a waste of money.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern yesterday announced Labour's policy for the rapid rail network between the three cities, saying it would be as fast as travel by car.

She said rapid rail was necessary to cater for growth in the regions, to take pressure off the roads and "supercharge" the regional economies.

The idea has been promoted by the Greater Auckland transport lobby group and Ardern said Labour would commit an initial $20 million: $10m for capital costs and $10m in operational funding.

However, Bridges said it would take more than 4.5 hours compared to 2.5 hours by car and if Labour was truly proposing rapid rail, it would be exorbitant.

"That is more for places with the population density of England than here in New Zealand. The population of the Midlands for example is over 10 million people as against the 730,000 in Waikato/Bay of Plenty and the cost of rapid rail there is in the billions of pounds."

He said the existing rail lines were the busiest freight lines in the country and there was no capacity for a passenger commuter service as well without double-tracking large sections.

"Labour doesn't have any plan to invest for that. Labour would kick economy-fuelling freight off this important line and replace it with empty commuter carriages."

Labour's plan would invest an initial $20 million for the first stage - a passenger service of 3.5 hours once a day from Tauranga and about two hours from Hamilton four times a day.

If demand justified it, Labour would look at upgrading stations and crossings to allow faster speeds, and eventually opening up to other towns such as Rotorua.

Ardern also pledged to double the amount in a fund for regional transport projects from a maximum of $140m to $280m.

She also plans to hold a roading summit with councils within the first 100 days of a Labour Government to accelerate projects important to regions - with a focus on fixing crash black spots.