Suburban passenger line closure urged

Press, 14 January 1986, Page 8

Suburban passenger line closure urged

PA Wellington A Government-commis-sioned report into urban rail transport has recommended the closure of suburban passenger services on Wellington’s Johnsonville line.

The report of the urban rail review committee, chaired by the former Wellington town clerk, Mr lan McCutcheon, was released by the Minister of Railways, Mr Prebble yesterday.

It said buses should replace rail units on the Johnsonville service for economic reasons.

“There would be considerable savings in public transport operating and capital costs, together with significant benefits (in terms of reduced travel times and increased service frequencies) to travellers in the corridor, particularly from Johnsonville itself," the report said. Mr Prebble moved swiftly to disassociate the Government from the recommendation, which partly affects the highly-marginal Ohariu electorate currently held for Labour by Mr Peter Dunne.

“I am sceptical of the recommendations regarding the Johnsonville line.” Mr Prebble said at a press conference. He noted that the Railways currently provided buses during peak periods

from Johnsonville, and that the Gabites Porter report prepared two years ago recommended keeping the line.

Mr Prebble emphasised the report did not represent Government policy.

Auckland commuters could be in for three stage fare increases totalling 202 per cent by April 1, 1988 if the report’s recommendations are adopted. “In the absence of a local contribution toward the total subsidy provided by central Government, fares would need to be increased in real terms to make up the shortfall,” the report said. “On current revenue levels the necessary fare increases would be... Wellington 56 per cent, Auckland 202 per cent and Wairarapa 33 per cent.”

The Government reintroduced full funding of urban rail losses in the 1985-86 year. The report recommends retaining suburban train services in Auckland in the short term, with refurbished carriages.

“In the longer term (in Auckland) it would probably be economically preferable to replace the rail services by buses,” the report found. In his report Mr. McCutcheon said the review committee had considered

closure of the core system of Wellington services to Plimmerton and Upper Hutt.

"On economic grounds, there is unlikely to be justification for closure of these services prior to the life expiry of the Ganz Mavag units (after 2000),” the report stated. “We have also not considered closure of the Wairarapa suburban services.”

The report recommends a review in the 1990 s of the Melling line service in Wellington. It also cites direct Well-ington-Wainuiomata bus services, rather than the current train-bus service, as a preferred long-term option.

It notes that immediate replacement by buses on the Johnsonville line would result in savings of $ll.l million.