Rail network upgrade will improve economic growth

Rail network upgrade will improve economic growth and safety

Proper investment in the future of New Zealand’s rail freight network will make Kiwis safer by reducing the number of heavy truck trips by around half a million a year, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Darren Hughes said today.

“Rail must be a vital part of New Zealand’s future freight equation and now the economic and safety arguments all stack up,” Darren Hughes said.

“Budget documents recently released publicly suggest that if investment in rail is not maintained over the next 25 years around half a million additional truck journeys a year will be needed to move freight around the country.

“The $750 million dollars for the Government committed to KiwiRail looks miserly when you consider Transport Minister Steven Joyce has promised $11 billion to build his ‘Roads of National Significance’.

“The National Freight Demands Study in 2008 predicted the total freight movement could double by 2040. Clearly it can't all go by road, so rail needs to be a major player in meeting the extra demand and volumes.

“That is an astonishing amount of extra heavy traffic on our roads and will have implications on both roading and infrastructure.

“Unfortunately Steven Joyce has made no secret of his lack of commitment to KiwiRail or his love affair with building motorways.

“As well as delivering fast and efficient movement of freight, investment in the rail network will ensure fewer big trucks are on our roads.

“All that is needed now is for the Government to come to the realisation that a balanced transport system is a win-win for New Zealanders.”

ENDS