Media release from Lyndy McIntyre,
Candidate for Paekakariki/Raumati Ward in 2007 KCDC elections

7 August 2007

Rail Couldn’t Cope With Population Explosion

“We need to get our rail service right for the people who live in Kapiti now – not to trigger a population explosion,” said Lyndy McIntyre, spokesperson for Kapiti Transport Action Group today.

Lyndy McIntyre, who is standing in KCDC elections for the Raumati/Paekakariki Ward, said the last thing Kapiti needed was a population explosion and rail was just one part of our infrastructure that was too stretched already.

“Greater Wellington Regional Council needs to be very clear with the people of Kapiti, “she said. “The 70 carriages GWRC is ordering for the whole region will not address increased demand from existing residents – let alone from an influx of new residents.”

Lyndy McIntyre said if we are serious about fighting climate change, our top priority must be to encourage existing Kapiti commuters to switch from road to rail.

“Currently less than 25% of Paekakariki residents commute to work by train. With a decent, affordable service we could aim to double that percentage,” she said.

Lyndy McIntyre said, following 1300 submissions from organisations like Kapiti Transport Action Group and many individuals, the GWRC Land Transport Strategy had been revised to express stronger support for increasing passenger transport volumes.

Lyndy McIntyre said if projections of a population explosion became a reality it was inevitable that more Kapiti people would congest State Highway 1.

“There will simply not be enough room on our trains,” she said. “Commuters will be just as turned off by new trains that are overcrowded as our present clapped out fleet.

“We need to concentrate on getting the infrastructure our current population needs – not just trains, but health services and water – instead off growing out of control and way beyond the limits of our existing infrastructure.”

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