High speed train plan from Auckland to Christchurch gains momentum

https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-ch ... s-momentum

A high-speed rail service can work on New Zealand’s narrow-gauge tracks and Queensland's rail system has already proven it, a rail commentator says.

The Green Party and others have been pushing high-speed rail as a means of future-proofing transport links across New Zealand.
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The reporter for this story has taken 2 + 2, and come up with 5.
The Green Party is proposing HSR between Auckland and surrounding centres , Wellington and surrounds , and Christchurch to a nearby city .
They are not proposing linking Auckland and Christchurch with HSR, Cook strait stands in the way for a start . Its a very poor piece of reporting , some think deliberately so, to Cast Green ideas as unrealistic and loony. many of the more conserative rail supporters haven't helped, focusing on the Greens support of cannabis reform, as the likely source of such ideas.
Anyway , Thursday is budget day . so lets see if the government (of which the Greens are a coalition partner) throws any money at passenger rail. Hopefully they will. All 3 coalition partners generally support rail.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/cli ... ger-trains

Some support from academics

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/121506 ... 3Hl6OdmrGk
About $ 1.2 billion to kiwirail in this years budget . New cook Strait ferries but won't be any faster.