The Eco-Express: Exploring an Event-Specific Train Service to Enhance Sustainable Travel for Dunedin Tertiary Students.

Students travelling between their city of study and their hometowns is one of the largest emissions generators for the University of Otago, these emissions also contribute to the profile of Dunedin as a whole (Rutherford & Cliff, 2023). To address this, this report will cover the question ‘How can an ‘event specific’ train to and from Dunedin be utilised to reduce the emissions created by student’s travel behaviour and what other benefits could this deliver for students and Dunedin?’ This inquiry aims to analyse solutions to the issue of emissions resulting from student travel, with a particular focus on travel between Dunedin and Christchurch for events and University breaks. Current underutilisation of existing rail and public transport infrastructure contributes to high rates of flying and driving. The effective use of rail is a key tool for reducing transport emissions. However, in its current state, the reinstatement of passenger rail is complex and faces barriers. The introduction of irregular passenger rail would be a more feasible near-term solution. This report endeavours to bridge the gap in formal research, offering insights into the viability of this method and provide further understanding to allow for more work to be done on the introduction of this service and additional supporting initiatives. This report may also provide insights for other possible institutions interested in implementing a similar service to further explore the idea.