Aotearoa New Zealand has a stunning railway history. As a country, we built an astonishing [2000km](https://andrebrett.com/2021/09/07/the-next-train-is-delayed/) of track within a decade. Yet, mismanagement, policy, and neglect in the 20th Century drove us to cars and trucks.
In this final part of my series on rail, I want to explore what is possible with a revitalised rail future. Around the world, we’ve seen stunning leaps in train technology. Trains are a time-tested transportation mode ready to cut the pollution out of how we travel.
We don’t need magical bullet trains to make transport (which is a fifth of New Zealand’s pollution) climate friendly. The world can easily provide standardised and cost efficient rail that can be faster than driving.
