New Zealand First would make the Te Huia passenger train between Hamilton and Auckland permanent and hand metropolitan rail in the two biggest cities to new council-government companies under a ten-point rail policy announced on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
NZ First leader Winston Peters said the policy \u201clocks in\u201d rail projects his party had already delivered and funded during its time in government, then took \u201cthe next practical steps\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand First has always backed rail, and unlike the other parties that sold it off, ran it down, or talked about it without delivering, we have the track record to prove it,\u201d Peters said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Under the plan, new companies called Auckland Rail and Wellington Rail would take responsibility for metropolitan rail infrastructure and passenger trains in each city. Taxpayers and ratepayers would co-own the companies, which would share a chair and guarantee access for freight, inter-regional and heritage services.<\/p>\n
The party said the change would replace fragmented responsibilities and let KiwiRail focus on its freight, ferry and property business. Establishment would cost $5 million, and ownership of railway land would not change.<\/p>\n
Te Huia\u2019s contract runs out in 2027. NZ First would extend it and add three train units, costing $130 million, to Greater Wellington Regional Council\u2019s new rolling stock contract so the service has modern trains.<\/p>\n
The party would also start planning Auckland\u2019s third and fourth main lines and protect the Avondale-Southdown rail corridor between west and south Auckland before its designation expires in 2029.<\/p>\n
Swipe at electrification<\/p>\n
NZ First wants to ventilate the Kaimai Tunnel between Tauranga and the Waikato and build passing loops on either side, for less than $100 million, to allow more freight trains through the Golden Triangle linking Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.<\/p>\n
Peters said that offered better value than electrifying the line.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe in getting more out of what New Zealanders already own, not spending $1.5 billion electrifying the Golden Triangle to save just $15 million in fuel each year in an already low-emissions technology,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sort of ideological idiocy is best left to the Greens.\u201d<\/p>\n