Cant Get There From Here - New Zealands Shrinking Railway 1920-2020

Dive into the captivating history of New Zealand's passenger rail system with 'Can't Get There From Here - New Zealand's Shrinking Railway 1920-2020'. Written by esteemed author Andre Brett and published by Otago University Press, this comprehensive paperback traces the fascinating rise and inevitable decline of intercity and regional rail services. Spanning 384 pages, this book explores the historical context behind the shrinkage of the rail network outside Auckland and Wellington while reflecting on its implications for the future of sustainable transport in New Zealand. Experience striking insights into why these two cities thrive in rail patronage, yet commuters outside face dwindling options. Discover the environmental impact of rail vs. road transportation, especially amidst the growing climate emergency awareness among local councils. With dimensions of 170 x 240 mm, this essential read offers a poignant analysis of transport policy and a call to action for future solutions. Perfect for historians, transport enthusiasts, and policy-makers alike, 'Can't Get There From Here' argues for understanding the forces that have nearly led passenger rail to extinction in New Zealand, making it an indispensable resource for anyone concerned about efficient and sustainable transport solutions. Don't miss the opportunity to own this book that reveals how our transportation choices shape the mobility of New Zealanders today and into the future.

Author: Andre Brett Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 170 x 240 mm
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 15-11-2021

Urban passenger rail patronage in Auckland and Wellington is now booming after many years of decline. Outside these two centres, however, the situation is quite different: intercity and regional passenger rail services are scarce, and no other city possesses suburban rail. Not only does this hamper the mobility of regional New Zealanders, it is incongruous in light of the climate emergency declared by many local councils. Can’t Get There from Here traces the expansion and - more commonly - the contraction of New Zealand’s passenger rail network over the last century. What is the historical context of today’s imbalance between rail and road? How far and wide did the passenger rail network once run? Why is there an abject lack of services beyond the North Island’s two main cities, even as demand for passenger transport continues to grow? This book seeks to answer these questions. In this fascinating study, Andre Brett argues that the trend away from passenger rail might appear inevitable and irreversible but it was not. Things could have been - and still could be - very different. We need to understand the challenges that brought passenger rail to the brink of extinction in order to create policy for future transport that is efficient and sustainable.