12 June 2000

Catch the train with Sue Kedgley

Green Party transport spokesperson Sue Kedgley is urging Wellingtonians to catch the train with her to a public meeting on Wellington's public transport in Mana tomorrow night.

The public meeting has been organised by Wellington Green Party members and is being held at the Mana Baptist Church Hall, Plimmerton at 7.30pm. The hall is close to the train station.

Ms Kedgley said Wellington faced some serious transport issues that were going to get much worse unless a comprehensive public transport plan for Wellington was developed soon.

"We need to electrify the train service all the way to Otaki and generally upgrade the quality of the service through improving the frequency of service, reducing journey time, integrating bus and rail ticketing, developing park and ride facilities etc.," she said.

"This forum will look particularly at the transport lines in and out of Wellington, as far as Otaki, and on how we can best increase the patronage of public transport along this line," she said.

"Public transport has been neglected in Wellington for the last 30 years and we are now beginning to count the costs of congested cities and motorways and high levels of inner city air pollution. The decisions we make regarding public transport now are going to shape the future of the region," she said.

Terry McDavit, Chair of the Transport Committee at the Wellington Regional Council; Russel Morrison of Transmac; Brent Efford of Transport 2000 and Sue Kedgley will all speak at the forum.

Ms Kedgley congratulated the local Greens on organising the meeting and said the meeting was timely in light of today's announcement of increased spending on public transport by the Government.

Ms Kedgley encouraged Wellingtonians to catch the train with her. She said she would be catching the 7.00pm train and looked forward to chatting with anyone who wished to join her.

"Compared to a rush-hour trip on the motorway the train will be a walk in the park - cheap on time, stress, money and the environment."

ends

Sue Kedgley MP: 04 470 6728, 025 270 9088 Jonathan Hill (press secretary): 04 470 6719, 021 110 1133

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