KiwiRail has changed the rules for the distance cycleways can be built from rails from 3m to 5m.
The company has been working with the Dunedin Tunnels Trail Trust for two years on its Chain Hills tunnel track, and was aware of the design, but recently made the ruling that means part of the trail cannot be built.
Trust chairman Gerard Hyland said this week he no longer knew whether the trail could go ahead, despite the trust having raised $500,000, spent money on property and worked to build part of the track at the tunnel entrance.
Central Gold Trail trustee Murray Paterson said the change ''could well make a difference'' to plans for the proposed Lawrence to Waihola trail.
The Dunedin City Council has for some time been considering the possibility of a cycle loop from Dunedin to the Otago Central Rail Trail, and back through the Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold trails, through Milton, to Mosgiel.
The NZ Transport Agency appears to have been less affected as it plans its St Leonards to Port Chalmers walkway and cycleway, but will have to build higher and stronger fences.
KiwiRail confirmed this week it now required a full 5m offset ''to reduce the risk to members of the public in the rare event that items fall from trains on to the cycleway''.
It was working with third parties throughout the country on their requirements.
A 1.2 to 1.8m mesh fence situated 5m or more away from the nearest track centre line allowed KiwiRail staff to carry out regular tasks more safely on the rail side of the fence, and lowered the risk for path users near fast-moving trains, KiwiRail said.
KiwiRail had recently advised the Dunedin City Council and the trust about the 5m rule.
''KiwiRail recognises the community's desire for a cycleway between Abbotsford and Wingatui.
''We will continue to work with both parties on how the cycleway can proceed using space on our land without compromising the safety of its users or KiwiRail staff,'' the spokeswoman said.
Mr Hyland said that as a result of the 5m distance ruling, he did not know what the future of the trail was.
''This has been a real slap in the face from KiwiRail, given we've worked with them for two years.''
The company had attended four on-site meetings with the trust.
With the understanding the distance required was 3m, the trust had raised the money and purchased property for the trail.
''Once we submitted the design, they then turned round a week later to say: 'By the way, it's 5m now'.
''It seems an arbitrary call.''
The area affected is on the Dunedin side of the Chain Hills tunnel.
Mr Hyland said KiwiRail was not demanding the same distance on existing cycleways, showing it could not be ''that huge a safety risk'' if existing cycleways were deemed safe.
He said the change in rules went against the Government's efforts to get people cycling instead of using cars, and there were ''much greater dangers'' from people cycling on the roads where there were trucks going past much closer than 3m.
The trust would look at options for Chain Hills, but there were pinch points which ''we can't get around''.
Other areas would require major structural work near railway lines.
The NZTA has also been affected, though not to the same degree.
Project manager Jason Forbes said the planned shared path from St Leonards to Port Chalmers would be closer to the railway line than permitted.
''Both the NZ Transport Agency and KiwiRail recognise that this shared path/cycleway has been in the design phase for a number of years prior to KiwiRail tightening its offset requirements. KiwiRail also recognised the constraints of the corridor and where clearances less than 5m were unavoidable.
The height of new wire mesh safety fencing would be increased, and the type of mesh would be stronger.
''As this applies to new fencing, the additional cost is not expected to be significant.''
The change would affect the area between St Leonards and Curles Point, a distance of about 1.5km.
Mr Paterson said the trust had not yet studied the effect on its plans, but the trail would go close to the railway.
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Comments
"'KiwiRail recognises the community's desire for a cycleway between Abbotsford and Wingatui."
Err, not quite true. How about a small group of people backed by the excessively pro cycle city council.
Interesting that the the St Leonards piece, which was last openly quoted as a $20 million piece of overspend, will now be just a bit dearer. What, just another $2-3 million?
Just how much are council willing to spend to support the bike brigade. Their current long term plan already has $60 million for bike ways. Add the St Leonards bit, the Harrington point doubling in cost and its around $100 million. For a town of 120,000 people. Of whom on a good day only 10% of the people could use these tracks even if they all wanted to. Just sheer waste.
As made obvious in the article, the fence is required to protect rail employees as much as the public. Obviously Kiwi Rail understand the danger of bikes hurtling past workers at 40kph plus, even if many cyclists on shared bike tracks don't.
Wrong on a few accounts there Keith.
The 'small group of people' is actually larger than you imagine, and they aren't probably *who* you imagine either. They aren't so much the lycra wearing road hogging cyclists we usually see, also it's the people who wear normal clothes when riding and ride non race bikes.
If you've ever jumped on a bike and ridden from Mosgiel to Dunedin city or vice versa you'll know that the Caversham/Lookout Point hill, and the Fairfield/Kinmont hill are absolute killers for the lesse/averagely fit rider. Therefore a flattish route from the city to Mosgiel would make that trip a massive amount easier, and more popular. And one i personally feel that the council should be concentrating more on as opposed to the city ones, for now at least.
So naturally this latest 5m rule is very upsetting for those of us car drivers who had one day planned on journeying along this route via pedal power to see friends and family at either end.
I know you are anti-cycle KeithMcC and see any expenditure on bike paths as a waste. But very few cyclists can maintain 40Km plus on the flat. And if cyclists are so dangerous for rail workers that they need to be separated and fenced, then why do you think its fine for cars doing 50Km plus to mix with bike riders?
I think you may be repeating a mistake with that $60mill sum too. Wasn't that from someone adding plan a AND plan b instead of plan a OR plan b? Either way, the sum is a one-off. The last annual budgets I looked at ( 2014&2015 i think ) had $50 to 60 million a year spent on road maintenance for the city. Maintenance, not new construction. Every year.
Have a look at councils 10 year plan. Massive sums for currently planned cycle routes. About another $30 mill for traffic calming measures including the addition of more bike ways. Add the $20-25 mill for the St Leonards bit, the doubling of the Harrington point piece and the rough estimate is about $100 million - before you add whatever you want for the Caversham to Wingatui piece.
My point is that millions have already been spent. Very many millions more is planned to be spent. Dunedin has a raft of other projects and sports that would benefit, but DCC is hell bent on supporting this single sport. See the recent request by the museum for $25 million over 10 years. Dunedins drainage needs a major overhaul. A myriad of sports clubs are desperate to boost facilities. This is all unaffordable if all money continues to be pumped into a sport or pass time for a seriously limited part of the Dunedin population. You can argue the numbers, but I doubt bike participation is above 10% of citizens. This is too big an expenditure for this few at the detriment of all others.
" DCC is hell bent on supporting this single sport. " ... and there it is. No. This isn't a facility for a sport - that's a velodrome. The Tunnels trail will be for commuters, Mosgiel/Abbotsford/Green Island/Caversham. The Tunnels trail will be for tourists coming from Port, coming from the Otago trails, coming to see some of our amazing Victorian infrastructure. The Tunnels trail will be for recreational users, including families, children, individuals and not just on cycles. Walking, cycling, skating, even mobility scooters (before KiwiRail changed their rules). This is active transport at it's best: an integral part of the transportation infrastructure of the city. This is not designed as a speed lane for lycra-clad athletes.
Keith, you are obviously unaware of the difference between cycling for sport and cycling for transport. You obviously have issues with the former. Perhaps you got dropped on steep climbs too often. Perhaps you spent 1000's on a carbon fibre sled, only to find you still didn't win any races ...whatever the case may be, this isn't about sport. It's not even about winning anything. It's about Dunedin becoming a little less car-centric, which will benefit, among others, those who continue to drive. What is wrong with that?