The tourist train is still not running, although the summer holidays are here — high schools started breaking up this week, and primary schools will next week.
KiwiRail has apparently emailed ticket-holders advising them it has cancelled forward bookings on the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine up to and including January 13.
KiwiRail acting chief executive Todd Moyle said those trains had not run since the Level 4 lockdown in August.
"We are working through a number of issues around the reopening of viable services, including around vaccine mandates for those using the service. We hope to make announcements shortly."
Westland Mayor Bruce Smith said the TranzAlpine was the biggest supplier of tourism on the Coast, bringing far great numbers than those arriving by air.
"There’s no excuse. There’s record amounts of coal going from the Coast, the [rail] line is in good nick."
Citing the large amount of money state-owned KiwiRail got from the Government’s provincial growth fund, he said anything other than a full resumption of service was unacceptable.
Grey Mayor Tania Gibson said she understood the train would resume from January 13.
She had spoken to Mr Moyle on Thursday, and asked for December 13 instead.
She had previously lobbied for low fares to encourage New Zealanders to catch the train.
"Air New Zealand is flying," she said, referring to the Covid-19 rules.
The delay also rankles with tourism operators.
Noah’s Ark owner Lynda Richmond said people were getting in planes and sitting side by side; they were also sitting in restaurants, side by side.
"A daily service is crucial for the West Coast recovery, especially Greymouth," Ms Richmond said.
If it did resume from January 13, the Coast would have missed the Christmas and New Year boom, when most New Zealanders were travelling, she said.
"That’s when people would like to get on a train and go to the Coast. It’s about bringing people here. It will affect us."
She struggled to understand the reasoning for the delay.
West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O’Connor said the train was "key" to tourism on the West Coast.
Mr O’Connor, who was this week finishing up another stint in managed isolation and quarantine after returning from overseas, said the TranzAlpine was a key component of the West Coast tourism industry, domestically and internationally.
"The sooner it’s up and running, the better."
The reality of Covid management meant there would be requirements for vaccine passports, he said.
"We have to encourage KiwiRail to do all it can to get the service up and running as quickly as possible."
Newshub reported all three scenic train journeys were considered "public transport" in the traffic light system.
That meant people were not required to produce a vaccine passport, which KiwiRail was not happy with.
"We are not prepared to operate them without requiring proof of passengers’ double vaccination," Mr Moyle told Newshub.
Asked by the Greymouth Star if that was an issue with the TranzAlpine, KiwiRail did not respond directly. — Greymouth Star
