A few weeks ago Hawke’s Bay Today published an article with the headline “Cyclists eye rail line for Bay2Bay”.
The article outlined a group of cyclists enthusiasm to see the very under utilised Napier to Gisborne rail line rejuvenated into a Rail trail.
The group is not anti-rail. We simply believe that a combined cycle and walk way will give the region a better return, on a publicly owned asset, than keeping the rail line open.
We’re well aware that some people think differently. All we ask is for people to have open minds when weighing up the costs and opportunities of each option.
There are numerous examples of Rail trails in Australia, Europe, USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. A rail trail is a multi-use tourism and recreation facility. The best example we have in New Zealand is the Central Otago Rail Trail between Middlemarch and Clyde in the South Island. A 150km cycle / walking journey.
The Napier to Gisborne Line would make an excellent Rail Trail.
If built a 200km rail trail connecting Napier and Gisborne would provide a 3 to 4 day cycle journey amongst stunning East coast landscape, from rugged hill country farmland to forestry and coastscapes.
A number of impressive viaducts and 20 tunnels would certainly provide an interesting journey for cyclist and walkers. The rail trail would cross the Mohaka viaduct 270 metres long and 97 metres above the Mohaka River, New Zealand’s highest viaduct. The longest tunnel is 3.1kms long.
The delightful Hawkes Bay climate would entice riders to make side trips to rivers, beaches and historic sites. The trail would be used in all seasons.
Wairoa the town to gain the most from the rail trail would provide accommodation food and cultural entertainment to the cyclists.
The case for a rail trail is based around creating jobs – employment to serve the cycling visitors.
Visitors need places to sleep and eat, they need transport. As with the Central Otago Rail Trail, this trail will bring business opportunities to the small towns and villages along the line, and farms offering accommodation and food. Creating new wealth in the communities and employment opportunities.
A survey of Otago Central Rail Trail users showed each rider spent about $350 locally and that the trail had generated 200 additional full and part time jobs among accommodation businesses and other services. Around 11,000 people completed the whole trail last year.
A recent economic survey of the Otago Central Rail Trail found that the total value to the regional economy was $8 million a year. The majority of cyclist was domestic visitors, most from the North Island. An increasing number of overseas visitors are cycling the 150km journey.
Meanwhile, the Napier to Gisborne Rail line is the most under utilised rail line in the entire Kiwi Rail network. It currently runs on average one train a week.
It continues to be an economic cost to New Zealand taxpayers.
The overall question of the line’s future can only be answered by its owner, the New Zealand Government and not the local politicians who maintain the Napier to Gisborne Line is a sacred cow, or as the Chairman of the Hawkes Bay Regional, Mr Dick recently said the Napier to Gisborne Line is “Sacrosanct”. They say the line is crucial for regional development.
Rail trails are also important for regional development, with the Government’s recent allocation of $50 million to develop a series “Great rides”. The Government is keen to quick start projects and have recently announced seven possible great ride projects. The Government will co-fund the feasibility costs. Four of the seven proposals involve building cycleways on old rail corridors.
With a little political will and open minds about the Napier to Gisborne rail line, I would suggest it is very timely to engage in an economic and engineering feasibility study on the Napier to Gisborne Rail Trail idea.
We have missed out on the first round of government funding because our proposal is not far enough advanced. But there’s nothing stopping the region looking, now, at alternative uses for the line rather than continue to live in hope that it will one day become profitable.
Interest in the Napier to Gisborne rail trail concept is growing especially at the Gisborne end, a district that unfortunately lost over 200 jobs due to the economic recession in July.
Tourism New Zealand figures show that of the 2,469,00 visitors to New Zealand last year, 45,000 took part in cycling. Cycling tourists stayed more than twice as long as other international tourists and spent almost twice as much. Bike NZ believes the Napier to Gisborne railway corridor would be a tremendous asset to tourism here. It provides a great route away from traffic, it has a good gradient and it has great scenery.
It is a shame the Hawkes Bay regional Council land transport Committee is not at all keen on the idea of a feasibility study for a rail trail. Considering they do not own or operate the line, they have little to lose.
In reality the regional Council have a rather closed economic development mindset and are simply not prepared to investigate the regional economic significance of a rail trail.
We believe our rail trail proposal has more to offer the region, and the country as a whole. If the line’s backers believe they can do better than one train a week on the line – and it’ll need to be a lot more than that to be profitable let them put what they have got on the table.
If it’s more hope and a prayer, let’s get behind the real opportunity offered by the rail trail.
Brian Fisher
Hawkes Bay Cyclist.
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