Support for passenger rail

UPDATE: The petition has almost 1500 signatures!
​I have long been an advocate for public transport. Bringing back long-distance passenger rail to Taranaki is a no-brainer. Please support this petition: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/bring-back-long-distance-passenger-rail-to-taranaki 
South Taranaki communities currently have a few a public transport options that are run by the Regional Council: the Connector between Hāwera and New Plymouth, the upgraded daily services connecting coastal communities between Ōpunake and New Plymouth and the other Southlink services. While the addition of more services for South Taranaki in recent years has been welcomed by locals - and looking at the numbers, they are indeed well used - I am pushing for an expansion of the public transport network with more urban and rural services.
Public transport connects people, lowers our emissions and congestion and crucially provides transport options for the elderly, youth and the poor.
Until the 1950s, Ōpunake had daily train connections to Whanganui and Wellington. I support the call to reinstate regular passenger rail services between New Plymouth, Whanganui, Palmerston North and Wellington, reconnecting communities across the North Island with safe, sustainable, and inclusive public transport.