8 May 2002

The Auckland Regional Council today moved another step closer to getting new trains for the Auckland rail network.

The Passenger Transport Committee agreed to launch an open, competitive tender to select a manufacturer of long-term rolling stock (trains) for the Auckland passenger services.

The committee also agreed to further investigate sourcing interim trains so that service frequencies can be boosted when the Britomart station is due to open in July 2003.

“We have a three-pronged attack for getting a future fleet into Auckland as quickly and cost-effectively as possible,” said Passenger Transport Committee Chairwoman Catherine Harland.

The three actions are: to get the best use out of the current fleet; to source interim trains by 2003; and to go to tender to get new trains for Auckland, to arrive in 2005 and 2006.

“When we say ‘new’, they could be brand new or they could be a quality second-hand trains,” said Councillor Harland. “It’s just like buying a ‘new’ car. Providing a proposed option will provide a good performance for 30 years, we will consider it.”

“We received a proposal from Tranz Rail to provide second-hand M-Trains without going to tender. For the ARC to go to a sole supplier for a large purchase, the proposal would have to be sufficiently different from potential alternatives.

“We commissioned a thorough independent evaluation of the M-Train proposal. It showed that the M-Train proposal was close in cost and delivery times to a potential new DMU proposal,” said Cr Harland.

Deputy Chair Michael Barnett took over as chair for the meeting’s final stages. “The ARC today decided to proceed with an open, competitive tender round. To understand what would be the best value for ratepayers, we need to undertake a competitive process,” said Councillor Barnett.

“Then Tranz Rail’s proposal can be pitted against the best other manufacturers can offer so that we know we are choosing the best trains for Auckland,” said Cr Barnett.

“These trains are to last 30 years, we will get it right.”

Ends

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