Council is proposing to rate Hamilton residents to fund a two-year trial of a passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland. The preferred of three options would see ratepayers charged an extra $6.45 for every $100,000 to the capital value of their property, capped at $2.5 million of capital value. The cost of a one-way fare between Hamilton and Britomart is proposed to be $16.10. The trial would see two return services to Auckland each day leaving the Frankton station at 6am and 6.40am and arrive at Papakura, where passengers would have to swap trains to Britomart. But Moroney said termination at Papakura leaves the service teetering. It needs to go further north to the Manukau or Ōtāhuhu station. "What we want is the best service for the people who are using it and at 2 hours 20 minutes, that is right on the edge of viability. It needs to be faster than that." Ad Feedback Regular Auckland rail services take 50 minutes from Papakura to Britomart, with carriages stopping at all 16 stations on the southern line. - www.stuff.co.nz