It s amazing how much interest is generated by something that s about to be taken away, considering how little use it may have had while it was available. The Southerner rail service may get a reprieve in a month or so, but its long term future will depend on current interest being translated into action. It s a tough marketing challenge.
Smart travellers take the train now between London and Paris.
By contrast, the Southerner would have reached Dunedin in the same time. Clearly something more lateral is needed. A number of commentators have suggested tourism is the answer. I think they are right in a general sense, but the specific formula needs to be found. We don t have the feeder possibilities of the Picton-Christchurch line, nor the scenery of the TransAlpine.