Media statement
For immediate release
Thursday, 15 June 2006

Copeland calls for more railway station carparks

United Future transport spokesman, Gordon Copeland MP, says that an investment in car parking facilities at suburban stations in Wellington and Auckland could greatly increase the number of commuters travelling by train.

He's raised the concept with the Minister of Finance, Dr Michael Cullen and Treasury Officials during evidence given to Parliament's finance and expenditure select committee and later expanded on his comments.

"The increasing price of oil now provides a strong financial incentive for commuters to travel by train wherever possible.

"However the journey from home to the nearest railway station itself becomes a barrier unless there is somewhere to park the car during the day.

"The Government now owns the railway stations and their surrounding land. I think this opens up enormous possibilities for commercial arrangements with the private sector to get on with the building of multi-storied car parks.

"This could be a critical success factor in expanding the suburban rail networks.

"The exercise may be commercially viable in its own right (by charging a car parking fee to the commuter) but if that proves to be non-viable, then a case could be made for subsidies through Land Transport NZ," said Mr Copeland.

ENDS

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