Business and professional women's group BPW Dunedin is lobbying national and local government politicians, businesses and organisations throughout the country in a campaign to have the Southerner train service restored.
"We have sent out 85 letters, and there are many more to come. We want the public of Dunedin to get behind us and join the call to restore the Southerner,'' Southerner campaign co-ordinator Sue Hill said.
Running on the main trunk line between Christchurch and Invercargill, the Southerner was closed down in February, 2002, because of low passenger numbers. However, with rising petrol costs and environmental concerns, people's thoughts are turning once more to rail.
‘‘It's a brilliant way to travel. And now the government has bought back the railways, we believe we may as well use it,'' BPW Dunedin president Jean Park said.
‘‘It could also have huge economic benefits for the region through tourism and lower transport costs,'' BPW Dunedin secretary Marilou Scott said.
In correspondence with Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson, Mrs Park put forward the suggestion, but was told there would need to be popular demand before such a move could be contemplated.
‘‘So we thought, ‘okay, let's make some noise','' Mrs Park said.
Contacted by The Star, Mr Hodgson said he had been approached by many people on the matter, and that he was ‘‘encouraged by people's enthusiasm for it''.
‘‘However, we will have to proceed a step at a time . . . and such a service would need to be viable,'' he said.
Market surveys would need to be done. Any possibility of reinstating the Southerner would depend on demand, Mr Hodgson said.
The Star canvassed opinion among civic and business leaders and found support, tinged with caution.
‘‘The theory is good, and it is a laudable idea, but at the end of the day there has to be a business case for it,'' Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin said.
Timaru Mayor Janie Annear and Waimate District Mayor John Coles expressed support for the return of the Southerner.
‘‘I am very supportive of the idea, and my councillors are too - it is something we have missed for years. I believe it would be commercially viable if it was well marketed and well run,'' Mrs Annear said.
Mr Coles was ‘‘definitely keen'' on the idea and felt having a service that passed through many of the South Island's centres would be well used.
‘‘It makes sense to me,'' he said.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie applauded the BPW Dunedin effort, saying ‘‘good on them for running it up the flagpole''.
‘‘I believe it would be worth doing a business case to see if such a service would be viable.''
Taieri Gorge Railway operations manager Grant Craig was pleased people were thinking about rail.
‘‘I think people would definitely come back to the train if it was there,'' he said.
However, to establish a service would require investment in expensive rolling stock.
‘‘Taieri Gorge Railway would be interested in a longdistance train, but would need a major capital investment,'' Mr Craig said.
A spokesman for the office of Minister of Finance Dr Michael Cullen said the minister was ‘‘gratified by the enthusiasm that the buy-back of the rail service had led to'', but a huge investment was required to protect the asset as it stood.
‘‘Our first priority is to protect the services we have and get more freight moving on rail. Then we can see what happens in the longer term,'' the spokesman said.
- Returning to train travel is also the focus of a group of West Harbour residents, who will host a ‘‘Get back to the Train'' public meeting to discuss the restoration of the West Harbour-North Coast commuter train on September 17, at 7pm in Waitati Hall.
