The council voted this week to approach KiwiRail to help prepare a business case for the passenger rail service. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Environment Canterbury is proposing a new commuter train from Rangiora and Rolleston into Christchurch, which it says the region's booming population needs.
The council voted this week to approach KiwiRail to help prepare a business case for the passenger rail service.
Councillor Joe Davies said the proposed route covers 54.7 kilometres and links Rolleston and Rangiora with central Christchurch, serving 13 stations.
He said there is a problem with peak hour traffic for people commuting between Christchurch and Rolleston or Rangiora.
"This is a transport solution to those problems by offering the people of Christchurch and [wider] Canterbury a public transport alternative," Davies said.
He estimates 2000 people during peak hours would use the train, which would result in a significant number of cars off the roads.
Shaw said the capital cost would be between $200 million and $400 million, while operation cost would come with a price tag of around $50 million to $100 million a year, depending on how many trains there would be.
He said this ideas come from the community, experts and the council itself.
"The ball's in KiwiRail's court."
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