Time not right for rail service funding - Hamilton City Council

Hamilton City Council remains supportive of a commuter rail service between the city and Auckland, but believes the time is not right to fund it.

Council today voted 7-4 in principle to support the proposed service, but will not commit finances to it.

The project to provide supporting rail infrastructure will be identified as an unfunded project in the draft 10-Year Plan. The public will then be able to give feedback on the proposed service as part of the consultation process.

Funds previously collected, totalling $256,000, have been retained in a specific reserve for passenger rail infrastructure if the project is pursued.

Chris Allen, General Manager City Infrastructure, said there had been considerable dialogue among stakeholders – including representatives from several other Waikato Councils who are part of the Rail Working Party – about the proposed service, which if advanced at a later date could also be subject to New Zealand Transport Authority subsidy.

Mr Allen said: “With its decision today Council has indicated to staff that with its current fiscal challenges, allocating substantial funding to this project would not be appropriate.”