Nights for Wednesday 6 May 2020

 

7:12 Can Narrow Gauge Rail Supports High Speed Trains?

As we begin to move beyond the initial health crisis brought about by the Covid 19 virus, into its economic impact, some politicians are arguing we should invest in high speed rail links between towns and cities in some of the more densely populated parts of New Zealand.

One of the arguments made against such an idea is that our narrow gauge can't support such services.

Looking across the Tasman though, there are trains from Brisbane to the Gold Coast running at least 120 km/hr, while Queensland Rail advertise longer distance services running at up to 160km/hr, all on the same narrow gauge as we have in New Zealand.

John Hoyle is the Railway Digest Features Editor and lives in Brisbane so is familiar with Queensland Rail operations including the tilt trains and the electric train operations between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

7:30  At The Movies

Dan Slevin is filling in for Simon Morris – and because of the lockdown devoting his attention to home entertainment – and he reviews The Half of It, a modern coming-of-age romantic comedy from writer/director Alice Wu for Netflix; Bad Education, an HBO feature film (playing on Neon in NZ) starring Hugh Jackman in the true story of the biggest school fraud in American history, and The Day Shall Come, a satire on American race and politics from British writer/director Chris Morris.

8:10 The Hump

The Hump is our Wednesday night Quiz Night where we take a dive into the archives of Nga Taonga Sound and Vision for some audio gems and we want to see if you can identify them.

8:15 Dateline Pacific

RNZ Pacific have temporarily suspended Dateline Pacific in it regular format so that they can concentrate their efforts on broadcasting to the Pacific. In the meantime, each weeknight we'll chat to one of their reporters for a daily update.  Tonight Bryan Crump talks to Jamie Tahana.

8:30 Window on the World

In a BBC Food Chain special, we hear how despite Coronavirus crippling the restaurant industry, leaving thousands of chefs fighting to save their businesses, some have been using the crisis, and their own influence, to help and inspire others.

9:07 The Enchanted Trumpet

9:30 Keeping Wellington's Orpheus Choir connected through lockdown.

Brent Stewart the Music Director of Wellington’s Orpheus Choir needed to think of a way to keep his singers socially connected and ready for their next concert once they are allowed again, so he’s created a digital rehearsal programme.

10:17 After10

• 10:20 Dr Michael Baker

Dr Michael Baker, epidemiologoist and professor of public health at Otago University in Wellington joins us once again to talk us though the latest coronovirus data.

• 10:35 Midweek Mediawatch with Hayden Donnell

RNZ Mediawatch's Hayden Donnell takes a midweek look at the top media stories.

• 10:50 Music Down The Line with Merran and Bethany Cooke

11:07 Inside Out

On Inside Out, Nick Tipping takes us on a trip to Scandinavia with jazz from Norway, Sweden and Denmark; including music from  Bobo Stenson, Jan Garbarek and Tord Gustavson.