Christchurch commuter rail trial gets green light
Ed. with header.
Not about to knock this, it is about time commuters had this option of travel. But part of it may fail for the simple reason the Ch Ch rail station is not in the CBD. So commuters needing to get to CBD need to take the 10min ride in a bus or taxi on arrival. This adds cost in time, convenience and your pocket.
Sure, 20 mins Rolleston to Ch Ch (near central) is great compared to driving for up to 50 mins, but then you're in for another trip to CBD.
Tracks do go through CBD but the existing station was a casualty of the earthquakes and the new station built in outlier suburb of Addington.
Rangiora commutors, Same scenario.
A plus side of this announcement is a regular and hopefully affordable, passenger train travel Ch Ch to Invercargill and towns and Cities in-between.
A step in the right direction but needs some thought to improve the Christchurch leg.
Christchurch commuter rail trial gets green light https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/2279900/christchurch-commuter-rail-trial-gets-green-light
@BigD Addington is a bit of a hub these days so *some* commuters may want to end there anyway. If the railway is on MotuMove and commuters get free transfers onto the Orbiter that could cover Spreydon and more importantly Riccarton/UC.
But at least a stop (if not rebuilding the full station) on Moorhouse seems the obvious move, and bring back the free inner city shuttle!
Next step would be to continue the line through to Lyttelton....