MEDIA RELEASE FROM GREATER WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL

23 January 2013

New Owners for 'Celebrity Red' English Electrics

More tender loving care is in store for two English Electric trains, bought and fully refurbished by Greater Wellington Regional Council several years ago, when they move into the hands of their rail heritage owners.

The bright red Phoenix train was rescued from the scrap yard and together with the Cyclops was fully restored about five years ago to help meet increasing demand from Wellington commuters until the new Matangi trains arrived. The two trains were used largely on the Hutt Valley line.

Wellington's fleet of 37 English Electric cars was retired last June, 74 years after the first English Electrics began running in the region. One of the trains was sold via Trade Me and is now at its new home in Nelson. Another was sold to a private individual and two cars have been donated to the NZ Fire Service and the NZ Defence Force.

Peter Glensor, Chair of the Regional Council's Economic Wellbeing Committee, which is responsible for public transport, says most of the remaining fleet has been sold for scrap. "But we wanted these two celebrity red trains that were so lovingly restored to go to good homes."

The Phoenix is bound for the National Railway Museum Project alongside the Ferrymead Railway at the Ferrymead Historic Park in Christchurch.

The Cyclops train has been secured by the Wellington Heritage Multiple Unit Preservation Trust (WHMUPT) and will be based at the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust site at Maymorn, north of Upper Hutt.

Bryce Pender, spokesperson for the Preservation Trust, says the trust does not plan for the Cyclops to remain idle. "We really want it to be up and running but that will cost, so we're keen to start fundraising as soon as possible to make this happen."

Peter Glensor says he's pleased one of the trains will remain in the Wellington region. "Wellington has a rich rail heritage. Keeping one of these marvellous old trains in the region helps that heritage remain visible and tangible. I'm really pleased that we could help the Multiple Unit Preservation Trust achieve this."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage