Backtrack eyed on train fare rise | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Rail rebels may have succeeded in derailing a 14 per cent hike to fares on the Wairarapa line.
Greater Wellington is reconsidering a proposal to hike fares by $3 for a same-day adult ticket and $48 for a monthly pass after a 700-strong petition from disgruntled commuters.
The regional council had listened to the response and a final decision was forthcoming, said Brian Baxter, Greater Wellington's public transport design and development manager.
''That's being decided at the moment. No decision has been made yet but we are looking at options and hopefully in a day or so we will have a decision on that,'' he said.
Chief executive Dave Benham said the increases wouldn't be scrapped but a smaller fare increase could result from negotiations with the operator KiwiRail.
''I can say at this point the overall increase has been agreed by the council, the details of how that will pan out we have to negotiate with the operators at this stage,'' he said.
The increases were intended to cover increased operation costs and the rise in the GST, but he said the council was aware the hikes could lose passengers, which would reduce overall revenue.
Masterton District councillor Lyn Patterson, who submitted the petition against the fare rise, said she eagerly awaited the decision by the chief executive.
''I think they did listen to us and they are now working to see what they can do for us because the fare increase was nearly 14 per cent for Masterton and Carterton,'' she said.
The monthly cost for children will rise from $180 to $204 from Renall St and Solway, $168 to $192 from Matarawa, $156 to $168 from Woodside and $144 to $156 from Featherston.
Wairarapa Day Excursion same-day return fares will increase from $15 to $18 for adults, $8 to $9 for children and $35 to $50 for groups of up to four people.
Monthly bus and train packages will also be affected, with the WairarapaPlus Monthly fares for Greytown and Martinborough going up from $312 to $336 and $336 to $384.
Greater Wellington subsidises the cost of public transport by 45 and 50 per cent for the region.