Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

John MacDonald: The stadium train is an excellent idea - let's make the most of it


Listen Later

TOPIC 1 EDITORIAL: STADIUM TRAIN

I love this plan for an express passenger train to get people into Christchurch for events at the new One New Zealand Stadium, which is due to open in April next year.

But I’ll love it even more if the councils around here chip-in to pay for a new railway station at the corner of Moorhouse Avenue and Colombo Street, which the rail company behind the plan is describing as a “key ingredient”.

Because, otherwise, there’s a 4.3 kilometre journey by road from the current station at Tower Junction - which could take about 22 minutes by car.

Private outfit Mainland Rail has come up with the idea to get nearly 6,000 people into Christchurch from Rolleston and Rangiora (and even possibly Ashburton). It’s saying an express service from Rolleston would get people into the centre of town in 20 minutes. It would be about 25 minutes from Rangiora.

It’s worked out how it can work-in with the KiwiRail freight train schedules and it’s already bought second-hand carriages to run the service.

But it’s the new railway station on the corner of Moorhouse and Colombo that needs sorting out.

And, with the likes of Selwyn and Waimakariri councils not putting any money at all into the stadium itself, this is the opportunity - at last - for them to have some skin in the game.

Especially, considering that this service is all about getting people from their areas into town for the big matches and concerts.

Maybe even Ashburton council could get involved. ECAN, as well - considering it’s been pushing the idea of commuter rail services in the Greater Christchurch area.

I know there will probably be no shortage of people who think that, if a private company wants to set-up this service, then it should cover all of the costs. Including the costs of a new train station.

But I don’t see it that way, at all. Because some sort of drop-off point for train passengers at that spot on the Colombo/Moorhouse corner would be brilliant - and not just for people using the stadium trains.

There’ll be others too who think it should be KiwiRail paying for it. But you can forget about Kiwirail coming up with the money anytime soon. If at all.

So, if this thing is going to fly, then it’s time for our local councils to step up.

Who wouldn’t want to see tourists getting on and off the Tranz Alpine service to the West Coast in the centre of town? Instead of that toy town train station at the back of Tower Junction.

And if we are really serious about getting people in Rangiora and Rolleston to even entertain the idea of taking a train to work instead of driving, then we need to offer them something better than a train to Addington.

This idea has the potential to be the start of something bigger and I think it's brilliant

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonaldBy Newstalk ZB


More shows like Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

View all
Nine To Noon Politics by RNZ

Nine To Noon Politics

1 Listeners

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame by Newstalk ZB

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

2 Listeners

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive by Newstalk ZB

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

13 Listeners

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge by Newstalk ZB

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

2 Listeners

The Mike Hosking Breakfast by Newstalk ZB

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

56 Listeners

The Country by NZME

The Country

14 Listeners

Weekend Sport with Jason Pine by Newstalk ZB

Weekend Sport with Jason Pine

4 Listeners

Q+A with Jack Tame by Q+A with Jack Tame

Q+A with Jack Tame

4 Listeners

The Weekend Collective by Newstalk ZB

The Weekend Collective

1 Listeners

The Front Page by NZ Herald

The Front Page

19 Listeners

The OneRoof Radio Show by Newstalk ZB

The OneRoof Radio Show

5 Listeners

Smart Money by Newstalk ZB

Smart Money

1 Listeners

Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons by Newstalk ZB

Matt Heath & Tyler Adams Afternoons

0 Listeners

Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast by Newstalk ZB

Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

1 Listeners

A Captain's Cup by Radio Sport

A Captain's Cup

1 Listeners

Newstalk ZB ANZAC Centenary Tribute by Newstalk ZB

Newstalk ZB ANZAC Centenary Tribute

0 Listeners

Sportstalk with D'Arcy Waldegrave by Newstalk ZB

Sportstalk with D'Arcy Waldegrave

0 Listeners

On The Front Foot by Newstalk ZB

On The Front Foot

4 Listeners

Holiday Breakfast by Newstalk ZB

Holiday Breakfast

0 Listeners

The Superior Sailor Series by Newstalk ZB

The Superior Sailor Series

0 Listeners

Rugby Direct by Newstalk ZB

Rugby Direct

3 Listeners

Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills by Newstalk ZB

Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

0 Listeners

News Fix by Newstalk ZB

News Fix

0 Listeners

The Big League Podcast by Newstalk ZB

The Big League Podcast

3 Listeners

Election 2023: The Front Bench by Newstalk ZB

Election 2023: The Front Bench

0 Listeners

All Sport Breakfast Canterbury by NewstalkZB

All Sport Breakfast Canterbury

0 Listeners

Sports Fix by Newstalk ZB

Sports Fix

1 Listeners

Football Fever by Newstalk ZB

Football Fever

0 Listeners

Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin by Newstalk ZB

Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin

0 Listeners