Government Inaction Makes a Mockery of Rail Safety
Week
New Zealand First is warning of a looming rail
disaster unless Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee takes
action to facilitate the rapid repair of thousands of
rotting wooden sleepers.
Transport spokesperson Brendan
Horan says KiwiRail has no idea exactly where the
dangerously compromised sleepers are located on our rail
network.
“But they are likely to be on some road
crossings. If they gave way under a fully laden goods
locomotive it could cause a catastrophic derailment with the
loss of many lives.”
Mr Horan says KiwiRail assurances
that about 7000 rotten sleepers would be replaced by
December are laughable.
“How can they expect us to
believe that when they have just announced that 181
maintenance staff will be made redundant by October?
“We
implore Mr Brownlee to stop making a mockery of Rail Safety
Week and step in to ensure the safety of our rail system,”
says Mr
Horan.
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