Greater Wellington Puts Heat on Tranz Rail

Tranz Rail's subsidy for operating the Trans Metro service in the Wellington region is to be cut this month as a reflection of commuter anger at repeated cancellations or delays to rail services.

15% or about $207,000 of the monthly subsidy payment of $1.38M will be withheld. The position will be reviewed mid-month.

Cr Chris Turver, chair of Greater Wellington’s Passenger Transport Committee, says it's unreasonable to expect regional ratepayers to go on funding Tranz Rail when agreed commuter services aren't being delivered.

He says while Tranz Rail and the Land Transport Safety Authority are working as quickly as possible to fix remaining welded rail lines so that speed restrictions can be lifted, the patience of rail commuters is wearing thin.

"We deeply regret that many rail commuters have been seriously delayed, or found that scheduled services have not been run, and we are working closely with Tranz Rail and the LTSA to make sure services return to normal as quickly as possible."

Cr Turver says it's hoped the final de-stressing of welded lines on Tranz Metro routes will be completed in a couple of weeks and that the LTSA can complete its inspections and lift heat restrictions by the end of the month.

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