More than a month since the last post on this scenic railway line (5 May) there is still no word on any government decision on whether to retain the line.
The only news was a report in a local newspaper on 29 May that Federated Farmers Gisborne-Wairoa had thrown its weight behind the railway's continuation: "Government policy is too skewed to the cities where Roads of National Significance are about solving congestions. There needs to be recognition
that regions like Gisborne need their own Roads of Significance to help
develop economically. Rail is also vital ... we're talking around $3.4 million to repair a line that hasn't been touched since 1988's Cyclone Bola. Even if it's twice that, it's still small ..."
Given that Federated Farmers is a traditional National Party ally it would seem unwise for the Government's Ministers to thumb their noses at this sentiment. Farmers in other regions may start having misgivings about their continued support for a Government that doesn't care about them.
In the worst case scenario where Steven Joyce gets his way, it's always possible for local regions to buy the lines involved (and since Steven Joyce considers them to have no value, they shouldn't have to pay much) and operate them as stand-alone short-lines - this has often been done in the USA which has a surprising number of such railways.
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