Could 50-120 seat light rail passenger railcars with disable facility be used on low usage heavy rail branch lines in Aotearoa New Zealand?
These passenger railcars could be used on localised, frequently used, lightly patronised services like Masterton to Woodville, Napier to Hastings, Woodville to Palmerston North, Greymouth to Hokitika, Greymouth to Stillwater and Westport, Greymouth to Moana, Invercargill to Bluff, Dunedin metro services to Mosgiel and Port Chalmers, etc that don’t require high specified passenger track but quality ‘branch line’ track. \
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Below are possible types of trains that could be used –
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This ultra light railcar uses hybrid motive power and can accommodation up to 56 passengers with a maximum speed of 104 km/hour.
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This ultra light railcar uses hybrid motive power and can accommodation 60 to 120 passengers depending on single or coupled sets with a maximum speed of 65 km/hour.
These light rail branch line railcars can be connector services to regional and inter-regional passenger train services in New Zealand’s [national regional passenger rail network](https://publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/new-zealands-regional-passenger-rail-network-20-08-2022). \
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Light rail for branch lines is one of the components of:
* [*CityConnect* – the national public transport network](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/cityconnect-national-public-transport-network-02-04-2024)
* [Time for a new regional passenger rail network](https://publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/new-zealands-regional-passenger-rail-network-20-08-2022)
* [Its time for a national public transport network](https://www.publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/national-public-transport-network-07-06-2022)
* [Lets Connect Communities](https://publictransportforum.nz/articles/article/connecting-communities-2030-01-02-2022)
*Light rail for branch line* is Better Passenger Transport New Zealand initiative and supported by Public Transport Forum New Zealand.
If you support Light rail for branch lines concept, [have your say](https://publictransportforum.nz/get-involved) or become proactive by getting involved in local [better public transport campaign groups](https://publictransportforum.nz/about).
