Tukituki MP Anna Lorck is launching a public survey to support a passenger rail service in Hawke's Bay after the inclusion of feasibility study prospects in the Regional Public Transport Plan.
Rail was added to the draft plan as it was approved by the Regional Transport Committee on Friday. It will now go to a full Hawke's Bay Regional Council meeting for adoption.
A report on submissions to the draft plan recommended the addition, saying there had been "a strong level of support for trains, both inter-regional and commuter services."
"Preliminary advice points to the cost prohibitive nature of passenger rail services in HB, resulting in significant funding constraints and the inability to deliver," the report said.
But "given the large level of interest" the report recommended that preliminary figures be made publicly available, there should be inclusion of a high-level policy aligned with an approach of Horizons (Manawatu-Whanganui) Regional Council, committing to working with Waka Kotahi NZTA, KiwiRail, local government, and central Government, to investigate options for a connected regional passenger rail network.