Public pressure has increased the number of flights out of Invercargill and public pressure could bring the Southerner rail service back, Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Richard Hay says.
Mr Hay has called on the Government to reinstate the passenger rail service between Christchurch and Invercargill - a service which was stopped in 2002.
A viable passenger service was "a must": it would help Southland capitalise on the growing tourist industry and would be used by Southlanders, Mr Hay said.
There had been a shift in attitude toward passenger rail in Southland since the end of the Southerner.
Petrol prices had risen and more people wanted to use rail, Mr Hay said.
Mr Hay is not alone.
The Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women has written to local mayors, Government ministers, and special interest groups in an effort to gain support for the reinstatement of the service.
Branch president Jean Park said her organisation believed the Southerner would provide an economical, practical and environmentally-sound means of transport.
She said Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson said in a letter to her branch that whether the Southerner resumed or not depended "a little on popular demand".
For example, the Auckland to Wellington overnight train service was stopped in 2004, but public outcry meant the day service was retained.
By contrast "the clamour for the return of the Southerner has, frankly, yet to mount", she said Mr Hodgson said in the letter.
Ms Park said she believed public pressure would bring back the Southerner and maybe even suburban train services.
Rail would be better patronised as petrol prices were higher than when the Southerner ended.
There was also a greater awareness of the environment, Ms Park said.
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt said his city would be willing to contribute funding if other councils were willing to invest in re-establishing a rail service, and if the Government upgraded the tracks.
"When we tried to save the Southerner all the mayors from Christchurch to Invercargill were united, but that was six years ago and many of those mayors have now left office.
I'm sure the mayors will unite once again," Mr Shadbolt said. Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin said that he thought neither council should fund the service.
"Why should you or I as a rate payer, pay to fund a service that is for the public?" Mr Chin said.
There were a number of obstacles to overcome before the rail network could be reinstated, but the public was likely to support it given the rising price of fuel.
Mr Chin said any plans to resume rail should involve all places along the tracks including Invercargill, Gore, Milton, Dunedin, Oamaru and Christchurch.
Otago/Southland Employers Association chief executive Duncan Simpson said that his organisation was not lobbying and that the issue was not a high priority among its membership. - Erica Donovan
