Time for Govt to get on board City Rail Link

Today’s announcement that construction work on the City Rail Link will begin this year is a further sign that the Government needs to get on board with immediate funding, the Green Party said today.

“While today’s construction announcement is a positive step, if the Government continues to delay funding the people of Auckland will be waiting another decade for decent train services,” said Green Party Transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.

“Auckland rail patronage has grown 20 percent in the year to January 2015, with over a quarter of a million more monthly train boardings than the same time last year, well ahead of Auckland Transport’s 4.9 percent growth target.

“We need more frequent trains to accommodate this growth but the rail system can’t handle more trains until the City Rail Link is built.

“More Aucklanders than ever before are using trains so construction of the City Rail Link cannot begin too early.

“The Government’s transport priorities are all mixed up. Why would it spend billions on expensive motorways when traffic volumes are declining, and delay funding rail when rail use is growing?” Ms Genter said.

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