Greater Wellington – Toll / TranzRail hold first discussions on Wellington passenger rail

Greater Wellington Regional Council and Toll Holdings Ltd have begun preliminary discussions over the future of Wellington’s TranzMetro commuter rail service.

“In December last year Greater Wellington Regional Council resolved to discuss with Toll the options for the future of the rail system,” said Greater Wellington’s Chief Executive, Barry Harris. “At that time it wasn’t clear whether Toll / TranzRail wished to sell the service or not. We have now met with Toll and clarified that they are committed to ownership and operation of TranzMetro.”

Officials are now developing proposals on the basis of a new contract between Greater Wellington and TranzMetro for subsidised passenger services. The proposals will include expectations for transparency of information, quality of service and the urgent need for capital investment on ageing rolling stock.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>