Election '26: Party Policies Show Passenger Rail On A Roll
by The Future Is Rail · SCOOPThe Future Is Rail spokesperson Lindsey Horne is “thrilled that several parties have jumped on board to promote passenger rail as a way forward for New Zealand”.
“Recent high-profile passenger rail activities, like the CRL opening in Auckland, the sell-out Auckland–Hamilton–Tauranga Kaimai Express trip and Dunedin–Christchurch Mainlander passenger trains, large passenger rail petitions in the South Island and Taranaki, and the purchase of new trains for Wairarapa and Palmerston North to Wellington services, all go to prove that rail is on a roll and is very popular with the public.
“This is also an ‘electric’ election, with new technologies such as battery-electric trains coming on track. These give significant opportunities to further electrify our rail network in a cost-effective way, reducing our dependency on imported fuels and lowering the cost of living for Kiwi families."
“Given that parties from both sides of the political fence are supporting rail, we expect that, no matter what the outcome of the election is, these commitments mean that passenger rail will be on the agenda for the coming coalition talks."
“We have analysed the different parties’ rail policies and statements, and see significant cross-party support for passenger rail, which bodes well for speedy post-election passenger rail developments,” Ms Horne said.
The Future Is Rail listed key passenger rail policy points made by different parties:
NZ First: The continuation of, and new trains for, Te Huia and its extension to Tauranga; the re-establishment of The Southerner from Christchurch to Invercargill; a commuter rail trial in Christchurch; further investment in rail infrastructure like the Kaimai Tunnel; and consideration of Tauranga commuter rail. The party has worked with local advocates to support The Southerner. In government, it supported Auckland’s CRL, Te Huia’s establishment and the purchase of new trains for the lower North Island.
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The Greens: The continuation of Te Huia and its extension to Tauranga, and ultimately electrification of the line; the re-establishment of, and new trains for, The Southerner from Christchurch to Dunedin and eventually Invercargill; night trains from Auckland to Wellington; further investment in rail infrastructure; and consideration of Tauranga commuter rail. The party has worked with local advocates to support The Southerner and Te Huia.
Opportunity: ‘In principle’ support for Te Huia, The Southerner and other passenger rail initiatives, but with final decisions to be left to the Infrastructure Commission, working with KiwiRail; and a $1 billion capital investment in rail to shift the country from car dependency.
Labour: Support for the continuation of Te Huia and its extension to Tauranga; a commitment to work with councils, KiwiRail and other operators on other services like The Southerner; and consideration of Tauranga commuter rail. The party has worked with local advocates to support The Southerner and Te Huia. In government, it supported Auckland’s CRL, Te Huia’s establishment and the purchase of new trains for the lower North Island.
National: No formal response. National MPs from Waikato and the Bay of Plenty have publicly shown their support for both Te Huia and its extension to Tauranga. In government, the party supported Auckland’s CRL, Te Huia’s trial extension and the purchase of new trains for the lower North Island.
ACT: No formal response.
Te Pāti Māori: No formal response.
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