It is time to face facts: the South Island is crying out for modern, efficient passenger rail.
For too long, rail has been ignored in Aotearoa’s efforts to reduce transport emissions and build resilient infrastructure. Yet, as climate change accelerates and our roads groan under ever-increasing pressure, we cannot afford to ignore the transformative potential of trains any longer.
Rail was one of the Industrial Revolution’s earliest transport technologies — the first steam engines were fuelled by wood, not coal — and trains remain among the cleanest and most energy-efficient ways to move people and goods.
Unlike cars or planes, trains offer consistently lower emissions per passenger kilometre, and their separate infrastructure makes them far more resilient during floods or storms, which can shut down highways for days and airports for hours.
For South Islanders, the benefits would be immediate and wide-ranging. Imagine travelling from Invercargill to Christchurch safely and comfortably working at a desk with Wi-Fi instead of sitting behind a steering wheel or squeezed into a plane seat. Businesses could boost productivity by allowing staff to work while moving between cities. Families could reconnect with relatives in small towns without fighting traffic or worrying about road conditions, driver fatigue and safety.
The numbers speak for themselves: transport accounts for 39% of New Zealand’s CO2 emissions. Shifting even a fraction of short-haul flights — such as those between Dunedin and Christchurch — to rail could slash per-passenger emissions by over 80%. Hybrid or electric trains would cut this even further.
But this is not just about emissions. Trains ease congestion on our strained highways and reduce costly road maintenance. They provide better accessibility for disabled travellers than buses do.
Rail can help revitalise small towns by linking them directly with city centres, supporting tourism and local economies along the way.
Improved domestic tourism is another significant benefit; scenic train journeys attract both locals and visitors eager to explore the unique landscapes of Te Waipounamu without the stress of driving long distances.
Additionally, rail offers better access to cycle networks — trains can easily accommodate bikes, making it simpler for cyclists to reach trails throughout the region and boosting economic activity in rural communities.
Let us not forget resilience: when severe weather grounds planes and closes roads — as we have seen all too often — rail offers a reliable alternative. In fact, many countries are investing heavily in rail precisely because it stands up better to climate-related disruptions.
Some will say it will never happen, but there are practical steps we can take right now. Local commuter services could be put into place in many cities.
These would provide immediate relief locally while laying the groundwork for longer inter-city routes. If we are serious about meeting our climate goals, growing our regional economies, improving domestic tourism opportunities and supporting active transport such as cycling, bringing back passenger rail is not just desirable, it is essential.
It is time for our leaders to step up and get the South back on track.
— Daniel Jolly is a Dunedin mechanical engineer.
