A public meeting was held in Auckland's Onehunga on Tuesday night, desperate for an explanation as to why a heavy rail link can't connect to Auckland Airport.
The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) has been pushing for the route for over a decade and is concerned at the recent decision to exclude heavy rail as a future possibility.
The proposed rail link to Auckland Airport has been hotly debated for years, and earlier this year Auckland Transport ruled out using a heavy rail link - like the rest of the city - in favour of building a new light rail connection.
It's a decision several campaigners say makes no sense.
"We're really here to test the evidence of Auckland Transport and just make sure that their light rail option that they're preferring really does stack up against the option of expanding our existing rail network," says CBT's Cameron Pitches.
Auckland Transport preferred the option of light rail on the basis of a report which looked at both light and heavy rail as well as bus options.
But Mr Pitches says there's no proof light rail is the answer.
"The issue with light rail is that we don't have a light rail network at the moment, we certainly do have a heavy rail, electric network and we think we need to be expanding on that."
As it stands, Auckland Transport's light rail plan to the airport is for an extension to the route via Queen St and Dominion Rd to Onehunga, Mangere Bridge, Mangere and the airport.
In June the Auckland Transport Board considered the business case and ruled out the option of heavy rail to the airport due to poor value for money.
"The other thing with light rail is that you can have more stations, so the catchment to areas like Favona would be more than heavy rail," says Auckland Transport's Peter Clarke.
While both heavy and light rail have much the same benefits, the cost of a heavy rail link would be double - around $1.5 billion more.
But for it or against, it seems all the groups agree that a link to the airport is well overdue.
Newshub.
