Budget 2025 Continues Solid Investment In Rail
Press Release – KiwiRail
KiwiRail is delighted by the announcement today that $461 million is being invested in the national rail network and a further $143.6 million in the Auckland and Wellington metro networks.
A $600 million investment in Budget 2025 continues strong backing for New Zealand's rail network as a key part of New Zealand's transport system and to support the Government's economic growth strategy, KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy says.
'KiwiRail is delighted by the announcement today that $461 million is being invested in the national rail network and a further $143.6 million in the Auckland and Wellington metro networks.
'This significant investment will continue to enable KiwiRail to grow through the delivery of efficient, reliable freight services for export, import, and domestic freight customers, and help deliver reliable journeys for commuters in Auckland and Wellington.
'The Budget commitment, combined with KiwiRail's focus on improving productivity and asset utilisation, is key to a sustainable rail network for the future.'
Mr Reidy says the $461 million funding commitment means the three-year Rail Network Investment Programme 2024-27 is funded so KiwiRail can efficiently look after the national rail network.
'This provides certainty for us to plan and effectively manage our work programme. It also provides certainty for our freight customers who rely on rail as a lower-carbon choice for moving all types of freight.
'In recent years, we have focussed on raising the standard of the national rail network for more reliable freight services to get our customers' goods to market. Rail carries 25 per cent of exports and upgrading our rail lines will contribute to the Government's goal of growing New Zealand's export economy.
'KiwiRail did not seek Budget funding for our commercial freight business, as new locomotives and wagons are arriving in the next few years to replace much of our aging fleet, thanks to previous shareholder investment to boost our ability to serve the market.'
Mr Reidy says the $143.6 million for the metros means KiwiRail will continue addressing overdue rail infrastructure renewals in Auckland and Wellington to 2027, overcoming historic underinvestment in both cities where maintenance funding has not kept pace with the increased wear and tear as metro patronage has grown.
'We will continue replacing aging infrastructure that results in track faults, which can delay or cancel passenger trains. Work will include replacing end-of-life turnouts (which allow trains to switch between tracks), worn sleepers and rail and improving track foundations. Work will also be done on improving drainage in the rail corridor, and in Wellington there will be additional slope and coastal protection, to improve resilience so that people who take the train will be less affected by weather events.
'While we have made good progress in recent years, there is still a lot of work to do to get the metro networks up to standard. This Budget 2025 investment will help deliver more reliable trains for the people of Auckland and Wellington and set the stage for more frequent trains to come.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
8 hours ago
- Scoop
Additional Funding To Attract 72,000 More Visitors To New Zealand
Press Release – New Zealand Government We want people to know New Zealand is open for business and we welcome visitors with open arms, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. Minister for Tourism and Hospitality A new $13.5 million investment in international tourism marketing is expected to deliver an extra 72,000 international visitors to our shores, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. 'The additional funding into Tourism New Zealand will drive international visitor numbers and will be targeted towards our core markets of Australia, the United States and China over the next few years' Louise Upston says. 'We know how important marketing is to attract visitors, with around 14 per cent of international holiday visitors directly influenced by Tourism New Zealand's marketing activity. 'This is the first investment in the Government's Tourism Growth Roadmap, which sets out a series of Government initiatives and investments for the Government and industry to work together to double the value of tourism exports by 2034. 'International visitors bring billions of dollars into the economy and these markets are the driving force behind our tourism sector. 'This investment is expected to generate around $300 million in spending, which is a very strong return on investment. International visitor numbers continue to climb and this boost will help drive further economic growth throughout the entire country. 'Encouraging more visitors means more people staying in our hotels, eating in our cafés, spending in our shops and visiting our attractions. This creates jobs and drives economic growth. 'We want people to know New Zealand is open for business and we welcome visitors with open arms.' Funding comes from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) for 2025/26.
NZ Herald
10 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Tourism: Luxon, Upston hope extra money gets more attention from China, Australia and the US
The Government hopes a second shot of tourism marketing dollars should get New Zealand attention overseas and attract more foreign visitors. Tourism numbers have generally lagged behind pre-Covid peaks even with borders largely reopened for three years. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston today said
Scoop
10 hours ago
- Scoop
Additional Funding To Attract 72,000 More Visitors To New Zealand
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality A new $13.5 million investment in international tourism marketing is expected to deliver an extra 72,000 international visitors to our shores, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. 'The additional funding into Tourism New Zealand will drive international visitor numbers and will be targeted towards our core markets of Australia, the United States and China over the next few years' Louise Upston says. 'We know how important marketing is to attract visitors, with around 14 per cent of international holiday visitors directly influenced by Tourism New Zealand's marketing activity. 'This is the first investment in the Government's Tourism Growth Roadmap, which sets out a series of Government initiatives and investments for the Government and industry to work together to double the value of tourism exports by 2034. 'International visitors bring billions of dollars into the economy and these markets are the driving force behind our tourism sector. 'This investment is expected to generate around $300 million in spending, which is a very strong return on investment. International visitor numbers continue to climb and this boost will help drive further economic growth throughout the entire country. 'Encouraging more visitors means more people staying in our hotels, eating in our cafés, spending in our shops and visiting our attractions. This creates jobs and drives economic growth. 'We want people to know New Zealand is open for business and we welcome visitors with open arms.' Funding comes from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) for 2025/26.
