Labour pledges to build a 'golden triangle' rapid rail network

Labour has promised to create a "golden triangle" rapid rail network to cater for the growing population in the Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga region.

To support the first stage of its plan, Labour is committing $10 million of capital funding, with an additional $10 million of operational funding to be allocated over five years.

A second and third stage of the plan could be on the cards too if it is justified by demand. If so, Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says the party would deliver passenger and freight services travelling up to 160km/h throughout the regions and south to Rotorua.

The party has also committed to doubling the funding range NZTA committed for outside New Zealand’s three main centres. Ms Ardern says Labour will lift this funding from the current $70-140 million level to between $140-280 million.

The increased funding will be available for all regions and for all transport modes and will include upgrades of regional state highways or, in partnership with local government, significant regional roads.

“In government, Labour will hold an urgent roading summit with councils to work out a shared plan to accelerate projects that would otherwise be delayed or never be built,” Ms Arden says.

“We will particularly focus on fixing accident blackspots, given the worrying rise in the road toll outside the main centres in recent years.”

Labour’s policy comes hot on the heels of the government promising to shell out $10.5 billion for 10 new roads of national significance around the country.

That figure is on top of $12 billion National had previously committed to seven other roads of national significance, which have all been either completed or are under construction.

“Like the first tranche, they will be funded from the National Land Transport Fund and the use of public-private partnerships.  The initial funding will come from our record infrastructure investment of $32.5 billion announced in Budget 2017,” Transport Minister Simon Bridges says.

He says New Zealand needs “world-class infrastructure” to encourage the growth the country has been experiencing.

The details
The regional rail network will be based on the existing lines.

The plan lays out three stages, starting with a passenger service that will offer a journey time of three and a half hours from Tauranga once per day to Auckland, and just over two hours from Hamilton four times per day, Labour says.

If the scheme is a success, the second stage would see new tilt-trains, as well as upgrades of stations, signals, and crossings to allow greater speeds.  

In the third stage, new lines would be opened extending the network to Rotorua and regional towns, and a new tunnel would be constructed through the Bombay Hills.

“Ultimately, a network with speeds of up to 160km/h for passengers and freight, connecting Tauranga to Auckland’s Britomart station in two and a quarter hours, would be achieved.”