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Magazine Contributors Frans Hertoghs Kiwikorrels: The big train robbery
Magazine Contributors Frans Hertoghs Kiwikorrels: The big train robbery
| Kiwikorrels: The big train robbery |
 New Zealand is a rough country: deep crevices, steep slopes, uncontrolled rivers. It does not like road-, water- and railways. State Highway One which crosses the country from north to south is a two-lane road, with single lane bridges and road narrowing. Just below Blenheim a single lane bridge without traffic lights exists, trains and trucks in two different directions make use of this bridge. The margin between the trucks and train toilets is not even half a meter.By Frans Hertoghs At the end of the nineteenth century a number of train lines have been constructed in this country. Quick and at random. Narrow tracks to suppress the costs. Around 1900 a railway network existed of a long line between the northern and the southern cities, with a number of side lines. The tracks are narrow, dangerous and are maintained badly. In the nineties of last century the liberals sold the National Railways to a private company for a song. They raised prices and neglected the rails and the material, until people died and the alarm bells were ringing literally. Then Toll Holding, an Australian transport company, bought the rest of our railways, discontinued half the network and knocked at the government door for subsidy in no time.They said no. And Toll tried to keep the shareholders satisfied instead of the passengers. Two years ago the South Island was stripped of three-quarter of its network. Unprofitable, Toll said, get rid of it. Only one short line still exist - between Picton and Christchurch.  And now they threatened to close the passenger line Auckland-Wellington. The artery through the Northern Island! It is not just an excellent way of transporting goods, it is a tourist attraction too. For eight hours you can sit and relax in the train, which stops at innumerable small stations and crosses breathtaking bridges and roars through untouched sceneries. Dozens of little tunnels and rocky beaches increase the enjoyment of the trip. Not profitable. Get rid of it.Why don't people use the train more often? Many Kiwis can't live without their car. Although Auckland is clogged up by cars they would not even dream of taking the bus or train. Tourists are in a hurry. They don't want to sit in a train for a night or a day. Or they want to go for a hike and see the country side. The train is the only real alternative for road- and air-transport. Toll only wants to use the line for the occasional freight transport, because some profit can be made with this. Big consternation and pressure on the government. But they stand firm. What kind of money are we talking about anyway? A subsidy of not even one million euro! And an incredibly phenomenon is happening. Whereas in the rest of the world rail and water ways are in the lift for freight transport to reduce the freight traffic on the roads, this country quite simply shuts down the only rail line they have. But one and a half century of negligence and overdue adjustments take their toll. The safe crossings of half a century ago are highly dangerous now and take dozens of lives yearly. The tracks warp at extreme hot days, avalanches and landslides bury them under rubble, they subside by heavy rain and the mobile material is in a shocking condition. Who will go by train if airlines sell tickets at incredible low prices and buses are cheaper and drive faster? It is a depressing result of decades of short-sighted management by the government, finished of by destructive private companies who are only keen on profit. Hundreds of job and small companies disappear, small communities are cut of from the rest of the world and are doomed. One Saturday would have been the last of the passenger train service. Fortunately Toll Holding came at the very last moment with a so-called compromise: in the tourist season the train operates as usual and three times per week outside the tourist season. Everyone relieved. Who is still talking about conspiracy or the loss of half the time table? This train robbery has been delayed temporary. Our national train is only deprived financially, plundered and not robbed! The Dutch version of this article is published in the January/February 2007 edition of Holland Focus. Ask your News Agent or take out a subscription.
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