Bay Harbour: March 17, 2021

Train speed to remain at 40km/h
• By Samantha Mythen
HEATHCOTE residents have
told KiwiRail they do not want
train speeds to increase through
their valley.
It seems KiwiRail have
listened.
Representatives from the
company, Steve Pye and John
Gousmett, have stated they will
recommend the speed stay the
same after receiving feedback
from a community meeting held
on Monday at 12.30pm.
Said Gousmett: “We want to be
a good neighbour as well.”
The valley community rallied
together after KiwiRail had proposed
raising the speed limits of
its trains from 40 to 50km/h.
Over 60 people turned up to
share their perspective.
The representatives led the
meeting, explaining their rationale
for increasing the speed limit.
Gousmett explained the increase
would reduce the amount
of noise as the trains would no
longer need to increase power
as they approached Lyttelton
tunnel.
He also said the trains were
currently burning more diesel
and this was counter-productive
to KiwiRail’s commitment to be
carbon neutral by 2050.
However, residents pointed
out, the main issue, was the
vibration caused by the trains.
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Heathcote Ward city councillor
Sara Templeton said she
does not always hear the noise
of the train, but
it makes her windows
rattle.
Another
resident pointed
out, the faster
the train goes,
Sara
Templeton
the higher the
vibration.
“Rather than
increase the speed, it should
come a notch down,” he said.
“The well-being and peace of
mind of the community should
come first.”
Prior to the earthquakes,
the trains travelled at 70km/h
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
ISSUE: KiwiRail has agreed to keep train speed through
Heathcote at 40km/h.
through the valley yet requests
from residents to lower the speed
were granted. Residents could
not tell whether the noise and vibration
was from an approaching
train or an earthquake and it was
causing emotional distress as
well as further damage to homes.
Said Gousmett: “This provided
many benefits to you but created
issues for KiwiRail as a business.”
At the meeting, residents
brought other issues to
KiwiRail’s attention.
Resident Rita Beesley asked the
representatives how they were
managing the trains’ speeds in
the first place.
“They fly through at night,’’
she said.
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Gousmett assured the community,
they would investigate
monitoring the trains’ speeds
to ensure they are following the
limit.
Another resident asked why
the trains idled so much in the
valley. Gousmett explained this
was because only one train could
go through Lyttelton tunnel at a
time.
Maria Ayala commented on
the fumes from the train.
Furthermore, it was pointed
out the train track is overgrown
and is an eyesore.
Many people were unable to
attend the meeting as it was held
during work hours, a choice
questioned by the residents.
Said Templeton: “It is great
KiwiRail have been able to listen
to the community’s concerns and
are able to change their recommendation,
understanding the
issue is primarily about vibration
and to increase the speed will
increase the vibrations.”
Heathcote Valley Community
Association chairman Lewis
Low said: “This was an excellent
meeting. It’s great the KiwiRail
representatives were reasonable,
surprisingly so.”
KiwiRail is expecting to
receive a new fleet of trains for
the South Island in 2023. They
will be low-emission, dieselelectric
hybrids.
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Wednesday March 17 2021 Bay Harbour News
NEWS 3
In Brief
FUNDRAISING FOR
JETTY REBUILD
The Governors Bay Jetty
Restoration Trust has released
greeting cards in a new
fundraising initiative. Each card
features a picturesque painting
of the jetty by the trust’s ‘Create
to Construct’ local artists. The
cost is $15 for a pack of five, or
$25 for a pack of 10. They offer
free delivery in Governors Bay,
Cashmere, or other nearby
areas. All profit goes towards the
rebuild of the jetty.
COMMEMORATION FOR
MOSQUE ATTACKS
The Sumner community
commemorated the two-year
anniversary of the March 15,
2019, terror attacks on Monday.
Residents came together to write
messages of remembrance to
those who lost their lives, and
messages of support for those
left behind. These messages were
displayed at the skate ramp and
then were taken to the memorial
site.
GOLD GARDEN PRIZE
FOR SCHOOL
Diamond Harbour School’s
garden creation won the gold
prize at last weekend’s Grow
Ōtautahi Festival co-ordinated
by the city council.
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