Save The Trains Campaign welcomes KiwiRail\u2019s decision to include a daily Auckland-Wellington service in an upcoming market research survey. But campaigners say New Zealand is still a long way off seeing long distance passenger trains return to the tracks. \\
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\nThe Save Our Trains campaign was started in late January by concerned members of the public after KiwiRail\u2019s announcement in December 2021 it was pulling same day scheduled passenger services throughout New Zealand. \\
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\nKiwiRail today sent an email to subscribers raising the possibility of a daily Auckland-Wellington passenger train in addition to multi-day tours and guided tours and packages. KiwiRail plans to send a short questionnaire to everyone who has signed up on their website. \\
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\nSave The Trains Spokesperson Paul Callister says: \u201cLet\u2019s be clear, KiwiRail is merely adding a question to a survey, not promising to return passenger trains to our tracks.\u201d \\
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\nMr Callister says this is still a sign KiwiRail is reacting to public blowback against their decision, with 5200 people signing the Save Our Trains petition. \\
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\nHe says KiwiRail does not currently have enough trains available to offer all the services mentioned in their bulletin. \\
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\nMr Callister says it now comes down to a battle between tourist-specific services or broader passenger focused services. \\
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\n\u201cWe\u2019ll continue to campaign for the return of national passenger rail services for all users\u201d, says Mr Callister. \\
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\nHe says the campaign\u2019s other demands are that future passenger rail services are built around concerns for accessibility, regional economic development, and climate action. \\
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\nThe Coastal Pacific service in the South Island was not mentioned in the statement by KiwiRail. \\
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\nThe petition to Save Our National Passenger Rail Network reads: <\/p>\n
We call on the Government and KiwiRail to commit to maintaining existing intercity passenger rail services. Furthermore, we ask for a comprehensive national strategy for future passenger rail services built around concern for climate action and economic development. \\
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\nThe petition to Save Our National Passenger Rail Network can be found at: \\
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\nhttps:\/\/our.actionstation.org.nz\/p\/saveourtrains \\
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\n*Press release dated 16 Feb 22. Authorized by Victor Billot, from [Save Out Trains](https:\/\/www.allrailways.co.nz\/)*.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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