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KiwiRail Admits It Will Charter ‘El Lemon Dos’

Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader
9 DECEMBER 2014

KiwiRail Admits It Will Charter ‘El Lemon Dos’

KiwiRail was quick to dismiss New Zealand First’s statement that the ferry Arahura would be replaced with the rust bucket Stena Alegra. But today that’s just what KiwiRail announced.

“Why was our information, that came directly from KiwiRail at the coal-face, denied,” asks New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Does no one at KiwiRail know what is really going on? Or why were they trying to cover it up?

“Spanish-built Stena Alegra has proved totally useless in its time on Cook Strait filling in for the Aratere which has had endless problems.

“The Stena should remain moored off Indonesia where it is awaiting repairs, it has no place on an important New Zealand route that is a vital transport connection.

“KiwiRail says the Stena will be chartered to replace Arahura but it cannot even dock property to take railway wagons so the freight has to be loaded on to other vehicles.

“Where’s the Minister on this? Missing, just as previous Minister Brownlee was. It seems running a ferry service is just too hard for the National government.

“How much more money is going to be poured down the drain in yet another half-hearted decision.

“Tens of millions were spent and wasted on the Aratere, a fortune has gone on hiring the Stena and now more will be put into the charter and the upgrade of KiwiRail’s second lemon.”

ENDS


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