Almost ready to put rail letters into time capsule

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Re: Greens’ influence limited, August 22 letter.

I see Gillian Ward did not sign off as the chair of Gisborne Rail Action Group this time.

Please tell us, is the GRAG still functioning, and how many members?

You wrote: "The only way that rail supporters will get the railway line restored to Gisborne is by voting in enough Green MPs to push a Labour-led government into funding the project."

I was just about to put all the letters to the editor from you and your sit-at-home supporters I have collected over the past 11 years into my time capsule. I will now have to wait.

The only other supporter I have  seen over the last year is May Ruby.

Here’s an update on Blacks Beach: Over the 3 kilometres along the beach front there are four dropouts. The big one (note, after Gabrielle) blew out 100 metres above the railtrack. I would say there has been close to a million dollars spent to clear the road and rail line so far. I have been up on the track three times and watched the progress clearing the slip.

The contractors have cleared down to the track so far and have done a really good job. With a bit more work, Geoff Main will be able to get the railbikes through to Nuhaka again. (We are also working with Geoff to get a railbike trip up to the  Kopuawhara Valley Viaduct and to the monument, which needs a working bee to clean up around it.)

This 70 metre length of track has slumped over 1 metre. I can’t imagine the cost to get that section of line signed off.

The Gisborne to Napier “Stuffed Rail Link" will stay mothballed for many years before it will be officially closed, end of story.

I suggest again that Gillian and your supporters should help the Gisborne City Vintage Railway group raise the $1 million they need to restore the rail link out to Muriwai. Otherwise they and the tourists to Gisborne will miss out.

Please note, it looks like getting the road from Nuhaka to Opoutama reinstated will cost $40 million.

Merv Goodley