By Justin Wong, Local Democracy Report
Metlink has to pull 11 of its Matangi trains out of service after the collapse of a parts supplier affected regular maintenance.
Photo: The Post / Ross Giblin
Wellington’s Metlink has to pull 11 of its Matangi trains out of service after an Australian parts supplier went out of business.
But officials said that would not affect current train services.
Trovon Australia, a rail maintenance company, supplied components for the trains’ HVAC air conditioning system, air compressors and brake units. The company entered voluntary administration last year and was liquidated in January, according to a notice filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Officials said during Thursday’s public transport committee meeting of the Greater Wellington Regional Council that seven units had been out of service since mid-January because Trovon’s collapse affected their planned maintenance, and four more would follow suit.
There was a total of 83 units in Metlink’s rolling stock.
“We’re definitely not seeing any issues to scheduled timetables,” said Metlink’s senior operations manager Paul Tawharu. “We’re seeing minimal impact to customer experience.”
The trains’ operator Transdev and subcontractor Hyundai Rotem Wellington already submitted a recovery plan showing how it would finish outstanding repairs.
Officials expected the regular maintenance schedule would resume in August. They also did not believe it would increase the usage of other train units.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.