Train Advocate

Kia ora! Welcome, I am Louise James, advocate for

passenger rail from New Plymouth through Whanganui

to Wellington.

 

Priorities

Spread the word

Please watch and share the above documentary to spread the word about rail in Taranaki. 

And sign the petition.

Getting logs onto trains

Hundreds of log trucks thunder along state highway 3 to the port on a weekly basis. Putting undue pressure on the integrity of the road and increasing the risks to other road users.

Since the start of 2025 some, very few logs have been transported by rail. This needs to increase.

Bringing back passenger rail

Once the Blue Streak railcar took passengers to and from Wellington in the 1970s. We have to think more seriously about inter-regional travel. The railway line that runs through our province is ideal to move passengers South to Whanganui and beyond. Let's bring back the Blue Streak! (photo credit John Bovis)

Opening up the Stratford Okahukura railway line

A derailment in November 2007 damaged several kilometres of the line near Tokirima. Kiwirail made the decision to mothball the track because they had "not been able to get enough freight to make the line viable" (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/54184/kiwirail-keeps-stratford-line-mothballed)

Get in touch