a cartoon on the Auckland central rail loop - but a lot older than you think

You may think this is a cartoon about the recent report Steven Joyce asked the Treasury to produce to scuttle the Auckland CBD Rail Loop, but it is actually an NZ Herald cartoon from 1954!  Yes, the National Party in Government has axed such schemes before.

It is from an entry on Auckland councillor Mike Lee's blog last November.  When he was chairman of the ARC in 2009, he accepted Minister of Transport Steven Joyce's argument that a business case would need to be made to justify the project going ahead.

"Now the long-awaited study has finally been released and its recommendations are better than any rail supporter could have hoped for.  The study reveals that using standard Treasury criteria (8% discount rate etc), the CBD rail link has a benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 3.5 (including wider economic benefits), or using more conservative criteria, the NZTA Economic Evaluation Manual, it has a BCR of 1.1.  Essentially the business case provides compelling evidence that not only is the rail link economically viable but that it is absolutely essential for the ongoing development of Auckland.
So given my own approach (respecting the process and waiting until the business case was out) I have to confess being more than surprised at the response of the Minister of Transport.  Rather than merely receiving the business case and announcing that it would be given serious study, Steven Joyce immediately set about trying to discredit it."

It should be obvious to any objective observer that Steven Joyce hates railways, but loves roads particularly motorways, so his approach to this issue shouldn't have been any surprise.  We recommend clicking the link above and reading the rest of what Mike Lee has to say.