Intersect

Purposeful Young Professionals

Trainsformers - transforming transport in New Zealand

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Superspeeds! Double tracks! Broadband! Meeting Spaces! Amazing stopovers! Incredible Coffee and delicious pastries! Can you imagine the type of service that you would LOVE to travel on? Trainspotters unite to bring this about!

Members: 50
Latest Activity: Apr 19, 2012

Discussion Forum

Save the Capital Connection! 1 Reply

It was reported in the Manawatu Standard yesterday that RailNZ is going to run the CC another 6 months and see how it goes. Reason being the Welly transit now has gone trains opened up as far as…Continue

Tags: Waikanae, Wellington, train, customers, North

Started by Jay Robinson. Last reply by Carl Chenery Jul 10, 2010.

The latest and greatest in train travel...

I can't see this happening in NZ for a looong while, but isn't it time local government at least started thinking outside of the box? …Continue

Tags: efficient, train, rail, innovation

Started by Jarrod Coburn May 16, 2010.

vs Fast Travel! 2 Replies

The exclamation mark makes it go faster.This group is for those that love the convenience of fast travel options, but wish they had sustainable options available. Maybe you thrive on an action-packed…Continue

Started by Kelly Ronayne. Last reply by Michael West May 4, 2010.

Slow Travel... 2 Replies

This group is for those who love slow travel and a slower (yet fuller) lifestyle and those who love the idea but may not be able to practice it for various reasons. What are the things you love about…Continue

Started by Kelly Ronayne. Last reply by Megan Salole Mar 29, 2010.

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Comment by Silvia on June 21, 2011 at 14:53: Hey Trainsformers!

We are marching to Parliament for sensible transport solutions! It would be great to see you on the 6th July! We are saying NO to the expressway and YES to sensible options, including upgrading rail.

Check out the event:

http://we.intersect.org.nz/events/rail-against-the-expressway

If you can't make it, please sign the petition

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/kapiti-coast/

Let me know if you have any questions, or suggestions how to get the word out.

Comment by Elinor Chisholm on April 27, 2011 at 10:08: Hi trainophiles. Some trainy events this week:

Wellingtonians discuss light rail for the city tonight.

Public meeting to discuss the threatened Hawkes Bay- Gisbourne line...

Comment by Lucy Gordon on April 18, 2011 at 20:03

I love trains! I love how you get to sit there doing whatever you like while someone else drives you to your destination. There is much less stopping and starting than with buses, you can get up and walk around. Something else I like about trains, as opposed to buses, is that they have a map of the route on the inside of the train and at every stop there is a big sign telling you exactly where you are. NZ definitely needs more trains. Some links if you're interested:

AKT is a blog by a guy who loves trains and wants more of them in Auckland.
You can have your say on transport issues in Auckland via the From Go to Woah online research panel run by Auckland Transport.
The Greens have a policy on Auckland transport and also a petition for the CBD rail loop.

Comment by Michael West on July 16, 2010 at 16:50: More transport ideas for the future :)

The Interstate Hydrogen Superhighway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE9RsgAqJeA&feature=player_embed...!

http://www.thevenusproject.com/technology/transportation

Comment by Michael West on July 10, 2010 at 17:26: Hey Kelly, thanks for your comment. Similarly the Wright Brothers were laughed at and scorned when they proposed their flying machines. I just read that The Department of Energy's Jefferson Lab uses large amounts of liquid helium to operate its superconductive electron accelerator....not sure what it's application is there though. I'm not a chemist or physicist, but I am familiar with the Albert Einstein quote "Imagination is more important than knowledge". I wonder if helium diflouride (HeF2) production attempts will provide an abundant alternative, or if nanotechnology will provide the answer.

Comment by Kelly Ronayne on July 10, 2010 at 16:21: Fun video, but it made my engineer husband simultaneously crack up laughing and start ranting about all the reasons why ETT wouldn't work as described. He was particularly amused by pumping liquid helium into a vacuum, where it would promptly turn back into a gas, and he doubted that there would be enough helium in the world to fill the tubes. *sigh* I wish it was easier to solve our problems.

Comment by Michael West on July 9, 2010 at 12:42: Incredible video on what's known as Evacuated Tube Transportation Technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03kVU2FYl6U&feature=player_embedded

Comment by Carl Chenery on May 17, 2010 at 18:04: If you want to know where the rail lines go- here is the file care of LINZ via koordinates.com:
http://koordinates.com/suppliers/?page=7#/layer/34-nz-railway-tracks/

Comment by Nick Potter on May 14, 2010 at 11:34: I couldn't resist adding this Bollywood clip (shot on a moving train, Indian styles without safety harnesses):

Comment by Carl Chenery on March 31, 2010 at 11:39: Here are the train lines in NZ: http://www.towards2060.org.nz/view-of-the-future-25/
To watch the overall presentation start from slide 1 and click 'next' in the top right corner.