Green MP accepts rail petition from 13,000 Northlanders

What: Gareth Hughes, Green MP accepts petition from Save Our Rail Northland with over 13,000 signatures
Where: Parliament steps, Wellington
When: TODAY 12.30 - 1 pm, Wednesday 5th October
Who: Gareth Hughes, Green MP; Vivienne Shepherd from Save our Rail Northland; Howard Phillips, Vice President of the RMTU

Green Party Transport spokesperson Gareth Hughes will accept a petition signed by over 13,000 Northlanders to save the Auckland to Northland rail line today at Parliament.

Vivienne Shepherd, from Save our Rail Northland and Howard Phillips, the Vice President of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) will also speak briefly about the campaign.

"I'm thrilled to accept this petition, which shows the huge support there is in Northland to keep this vital rail line open," said Mr Hughes.

"The Government's plan to make Kiwirail close the Northland rail line is truly short-sighted and doesn't take into account the reality of rising oil prices and climate change.

"Closing the rail line will also mean at least 200 more big trucks per week on Northlands' roads.

"More trucks means more potential for fatal crashes - big trucks are responsible for 16 percent of fatal crashes on the road, although they account for only 7 percent of vehicle kilometres travelled.

"The Government can invest that money into smarter transport choices - such as improving our rural railway lines - to reduce crashes and improve New Zealand's resilience to rising oil prices.

"Rather than wasting $1.7 billion on the Puhoi to Wellsford Holiday Highway, which will finish 80 km short of Whangarei, the Government could invest in improving the rail line," said Mr Hughes.

"We could upgrade the Northland to Auckland rail line to enable it to carry larger containers and extend the rail link out to Marsden B Port for a fifth of the cost of building the Puhoi to Wellsford Holiday Highway."

Authorised by Gareth Hughes, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

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