Brendan Horan MP
Spokesperson for Transport
02 August 2012

Boost Kiwirail Funding Or See It Become A Third World Service

New Zealand First is calling on the Government to adequately fund KiwiRail so the state owned enterprise can retain staff and properly maintain its track network.

Transport spokesperson Brendan Horan says Government underfunding is directly responsible for hundreds of job losses and inadequate levels of rail maintenance.

“About 7000 imported rail sleepers are rotting and being replaced at a cost of up to $1000 each. Already the dodgy sleepers have been implicated in two derailments.

“Tracks on some of the busiest lines in the country are in diabolical shape, so bad that for the first time in our history they are going to be ground back into shape instead of being replaced.’

Mr Horan says the Government’s response is to underfund KiwiRail then turn a blind eye as the organisation haemorrhages experienced staff.

“About 350 workers are set to lose their jobs, and the Hillside workshop in Dunedin is being flogged off.

“The Government must do better to save and protect KiwiRail or this vital part of the country’s infrastructure will fall into third-world status,” says Mr Horan.

ENDS

© Scoop Media