NEWS
NEW ZEALAND
The New Zealand government says it wants rail to play more of a role in the nation’s freight task.
NZ details rail spending plans THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT has provided more detail for its rollingstock and rail revitalisation program after the recent budget committed roughly $1 billion to renewing the nation’s rail network. In a detailed statement on June 25, a quartet of ministers provided more
$375 million will be spent over two years to replace KiwiRail’s rollingstock nearing its end-of-life.
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information on how New Zealand will spend the new rail money. “We’re addressing the last three decades of under-investment in our rail system, and enabling growth that will ensure rail is sustainable,” deputy prime minister Winston Peters said.
Fleet
The budget, revealed earlier this month, provides $375 million over two years to replace KiwiRail’s rollingstock that is at the end of its useable life, and to upgrade maintenance facilities deemed no longer fit-for-purpose. Some of the money is a final payment for 15 new locomotives delivered to the North Island in October 2018. Next, 48 long-haul locomotives predominantly on the South Island, 52 short-haul locomotives across New Zealand, and a small number of electric short-haul locomotives will be replaced over time, starting in FY23, with a new fleet of roughly 50 long-haul and 50 short-haul locos, and new electric short-haul locos. “New locomotives mean more reliable services and less maintenance costs,” Peters said. The rollingstock money will also see 900 flat-top container wagons replaced, with the worst of the old 900 to be retired, and a small portion to be re-purposed to carry logs. The wagon program will target the busiest rail corridors, with KiwiRail
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