"With the small timeframe it has moved in a tremendous way."
"There is not much benefit to us in the start-up rail service, but there will be. This rail service will become part of our corridor mode of travel in the long term."
Councillor Jan Sedgwick said she was a passionate supporter of the rail service.
"This is almost like the light at the end of the tunnel and that light is a train," Ms Sedgwick said
Councillor Aksel Bech said the park and ride in Huntly would be an important part of the service, and needed to be executed perfectly.
"We haven't talked whether there would be a charge for the park and ride, and how much that would be," Mr Bech said.
"Is it safe, is it secure, is it cost effective, to make that whole proposition of parking and ride workable from the start-up?"
Total funding needed for the project is $76.27 million over the first six years, from 2019 to 2024, with $66.81 million coming from central government's National Land Transport Fund, and the balance from local government, mostly via Waikato Regional Council rating, with financial assistance from the NZ Transport Agency, and rail fare revenue.
Hamilton City Council will meet on December 6 to discuss the business case, before NZTA make their final funding decision on December 14.