The Government’s decision to cut short the Aratere rail ferry’s existence this year will leave the country with no rail link between the North and South Islands for four years, points out rail advocacy group The Future is Rail.

“Four years with no direct rail link between the economies and populations of the two islands is far too long, and will seriously affect businesses, communities and jobs, especially in the South Island,” said spokesperson Dave Macpherson.

KiwiRail and the Government claim the four year gap is needed to enable re-development of the Picton wharf area to accommodate the two new rail ferries announced for 2029 by Rail Minister Winston Peters.

The Future is Rail pointed out that wharf alterations at Picton, to accommodate the previous Government’s contracted two new rail ferries, were already under way, while the Aratere was still able to use existing Picton facilities.

“The short-sighted cancellation of the iRex ferries by Finance Minister Nicola Willis 18 months ago has therefore caused the four year loss of one of this country’s most important and strategic transport connections.”

“While we have applauded the necessary decision by Minister Peters to resurrect the rail ferries programme, we now see how much the Government’s earlier axing of the rail ferries is costing us,” he said.

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