Can’t Get There from Here: New Zealand passenger rail since 1920

by Sam van der Weerden, Andre Brett

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 intercity and regional passenger rail services are scarce, and no other city possesses suburban rail. Can’t Get There from Here traces the expansion and 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.

Genres: Trains, History

384 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2022

Reviews

[Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paints a very effective picture of a network that has languished for generations under timid, apathetic and above all lazy leadership. New Zealand would never have had a network of the scope that we had in the 1920s today, but Dr Brett makes a compelling case that we can and in fact should have one of the same prestige and importance in day-to-day life.

Suprisingly compellingly told for what is halfway to a history textbook and is comprised of essentially the same tale repeated - of lines closing in the face of any reason but the convience of goods traffic, ignorning social utility, reason or even revenue.

Highly recommend to any Kiwi rail fan (just don't read it when you're in a good mood)

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read the last chapter! But an excellent summary of what should be done and how to do it. Very well thought out and balanced.

[Callum Booth-Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone in Aotearoa should read the final chapter. Everyone in Aotearoa who really likes trains should read the rest of the book. I am in the latter category.

[Gallifrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first became aware of Andre Brett in a bizarre manner - I noted his detailed and insightful writings on the New Zealand music scene on the website rateyourmusic.com, which he does relatively separate from his workings as a historian. Indeed, it wasn't until I messaged him about a trip to Melbourne and asked if he wanted to come to a show of a band we both liked that I became aware of his other work.

Parallel to this, I've developed a bit of an interest in trains over the last few years. It was always there deep inside me, but two years in Scotland travelling almost every weekend awakened something in me. The fact that my home country of New Zealand has such poor rail transport opened up a new area of interest, and one I could potentially influence in the years to come. The timing of this book couldn't have come better.

Much like his previous book on the history of New Zealand's provincial system, this is history book first, entertaining read second. The list of endnotes isn't quite as gigantic, but it's clear that Brett is far more interested in making a robust historical document than something to fly out of bookstores. The attention to detail here is immense, and he really does leave no stone unturned in terms of history, but barring a final chapter where he deviates from the norm to include an opinion section, it can make for relatively dry reading.

But when you consider what this book could represent - a touchstone document for a burgeoning rail movement within New Zealand, its history-textbook dryness is perhaps essential. Many arguments in favour of rail transport have been dismissed by naysayers as nostalgic attachment - after all, there are no other modes of transport that inspire such passionate fans - and any element of that romanticism could undermine the noble attempts to be factual and impartial.

In that sense, this is an outstanding book, and I implore everyone who has a passing interest in rail in this country to own a copy, if only for Sam van der Weerden's excellent maps to show what could have been and what might be. But this is book written by a history professor for the sole intent of being a historical text, don't let the friendly cover distract you from that fact. A tough read at times, but necessarily so.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very detailed book on the more recent history of New Zealand passenger rail,
which is clearly researched in great detail and presented with the greatest beauty.

I do however have two criticisms.

Firstly, patronage and service frequency information is almost exclusively focused on the lines in the process of being closed, and I feel it would have been nice also to know this information for other lines at the time - It would be amazing to know that there was once X trips between Y and Z per day - and perhaps also noting how services, even on better served lines, diminished over time.

Secondly, the last chapter, essentially on the future, seems misplaced in a history book. It should be obvious to the reader by this stage that political decisions are a major, if not the major, contributor to the success or failure of rail transport. While some information on what limitations can be overcome and technological possibilities is valuable is useful, I found this chapter to be out of character of the rest of the book.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amount of information in this book is staggering, presented extremely well in the writing and cartography. Clearly a huge amount of research has been done and it shows - after reading you will be an advocate for passenger rail in NZ! The book delivers historical information that highlights seemingly small decisions that have made a massive impact in the way that passenger rail (d)evolved since 1920. It is not a dry history book that lists facts, the authors almost tell a story in each chapter based on the decisions made and people in power. A very interesting read for anyone interested in transport.

[Daniel Headifen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has worked in NZ rail since the 1990s I was really interested to have a read of this. On the positive side it’s a good reminder of what has been in place in NZ and also to offer inspiration for what could be. On the down side, I found it had a theme that the decisions that were made were wrong and shouldn’t have been a bit wearisome at time. Been wise in hindsight is one thing but wise without consideration of the issues faced- how many $ would it cost to actually keep the trains going to Rewanui for tourists could have been noted rather than just noting it was a poor decision. The other piece I was disappointed with (because it’s been my professional career) is that the gains of the last 20 years feel somewhat passed over. Auckland City Rail Link is the biggest ever project in NZ. It took nearly $2 billion of investment to build Britomart, complete the DART projects and electrify Auckland metro BEFORE the multi billion $ rail link could even happen. Those works increased patronage by close to 20 million a year. That’s close to 40,000 more people each peak. The rail link will create even more of a jump. I’m biased but that success could have warranted more discussion than it got.
All that said, I’d be more pleased than most if passenger trains get support from the public to increase their use more.