Latest news with #AratereInterislander
Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
KiwiRail promises no 'price-gouging' when ferry retires
Interislander ferry operator KiwiRail says with the Aratere gone, passengers may need to travel on less popular sailings or be more flexible with dates. But it says there will be no price-gouging or considerable increases to ticket prices. The Aratere Interislander ferry will retire by the end of August, meaning cuts to both passenger and freight capacity. The Aratere is the only ship that carries rail wagons, but cannot use the Picton or Wellington wharfs as they are being upgraded for two new ferries arriving in 2029. A temporary wharf would have cost $120 million. The ship can hold 650 passengers, 230 cars and 28 rail wagons. More than 2200 passenger bookings have already been transferred from Aratere to other vessels - the Kaitaki and Kaiārahi. Despite the Aratere being the only rail-enabled ferry, Kaitaki and Kaiārahi can carry rail freights by using road bridging. Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy advised passengers to book their trips early, especially for peak season around Christmas time. "We don't have full ferries all the time with three [ferries], so we'd expect to have fuller ferries and, probably, people will be travelling at non-traditional times - earlier in the morning, later in the evening," he told RNZ. Roy would not say whether prices would increase after the Aratere retires, but assured there would be no price-gouging. "Nothing considerable... there could be a price increase anytime, but we watch our prices and monitor them like any good business. We work hard to keep the cost down." He said Interislander had dynamic pricing, meaning prices went up in times of high demand. Asked if customers may have to pay more because of reduced capacity, he replied: "That may be the case". 'Bad news' Union NZ spokesperson Victor Billot told RNZ job losses were "likely", but did not know how many would go. "We will be fighting for jobs. We can't afford to lose any more seafarers in New Zealand." Billot said there needed to be thought given into how the retirement of the Aratere would impact the security of supply chains between the North and South Islands. "This is going to reduce the resilience. It's going to lead to a higher risk of service failure if there is a problem with one of the other existing ferries. It's bad news, as far as we're concerned." Ferry operator Kiwirail had been under fire after multiple breakdowns in recent years left passengers stranded. In 2023, Interislander's largest ferry - the Kaitaki - lost engine power while sailing Cook Strait with 800 passengers and 80 crew aboard. The same year, there was a gearbox issue with the ship and a heat exchanger issue on the Kaiārahi. Last year, the Aratere made headlines when it ran aground near Picton, which began with an autopilot mistake. Roy said this year to date, the ferries had been 99 percent reliable. "As we reduce the capacity, it's our job to keep those ferries running safe."
Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
No 'considerable' price rises from Aratere retirement
Interislander ferry operator KiwiRail says with the Aratere gone, passengers may need to travel on less popular sailings or be more flexible with dates. But it says there will be no price-gouging or considerable increases to ticket prices. The Aratere Interislander ferry will retire by the end of August, meaning cuts to both passenger and freight capacity. The Aratere is the only ship that carries rail wagons, but cannot use the Picton or Wellington wharfs as they are being upgraded for two new ferries arriving in 2029. A temporary wharf would have cost $120 million. The ship can hold 650 passengers, 230 cars and 28 rail wagons. More than 2200 passenger bookings have already been transferred from Aratere to other vessels - the Kaitaki and Kaiārahi. Despite the Aratere being the only rail-enabled ferry, Kaitaki and Kaiārahi can carry rail freights by using road bridging. Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy advised passengers to book their trips early, especially for peak season around Christmas time. "We don't have full ferries all the time with three [ferries], so we'd expect to have fuller ferries and, probably, people will be travelling at non-traditional times - earlier in the morning, later in the evening," he told RNZ. Roy would not say whether prices would increase after the Aratere retires, but assured there would be no price-gouging. "Nothing considerable... there could be a price increase anytime, but we watch our prices and monitor them like any good business. We work hard to keep the cost down." He said Interislander had dynamic pricing, meaning prices went up in times of high demand. Asked if customers may have to pay more because of reduced capacity, he replied: "That may be the case". 'Bad news' Union NZ spokesperson Victor Billot told RNZ job losses were "likely", but did not know how many would go. "We will be fighting for jobs. We can't afford to lose any more seafarers in New Zealand." Billot said there needed to be thought given into how the retirement of the Aratere would impact the security of supply chains between the North and South Islands. "This is going to reduce the resilience. It's going to lead to a higher risk of service failure if there is a problem with one of the other existing ferries. It's bad news, as far as we're concerned." Ferry operator Kiwirail had been under fire after multiple breakdowns in recent years left passengers stranded. In 2023, Interislander's largest ferry - the Kaitaki - lost engine power while sailing Cook Strait with 800 passengers and 80 crew aboard. The same year, there was a gearbox issue with the ship and a heat exchanger issue on the Kaiārahi. Last year, the Aratere made headlines when it ran aground near Picton, which began with an autopilot mistake. Roy said this year to date, the ferries had been 99 percent reliable. "As we reduce the capacity, it's our job to keep those ferries running safe."
Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Interislander ferry to be retired by end of August
The Cook Strait ferry Aratere, grounded near Picton in June last year. Photo: Renee Horncastle via RNZ KiwiRail has announced its Aratere Interislander ferry will retire by the end of August and is warning of job cuts and that passenger and freight capacity will take a hit. The ship is the only vessel in the Interislander's fleet where rail freight can roll on and off it. That means it can't use another wharf in Picton while port upgrades there and in Wellington are underway for two new ferries, set to arrive in 2029. Kaiārahi will go to dry dock in Singapore in late June and when it arrives back in mid to late August, Aratere will retire from service. Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy said it will come out of service no later than August 30. Roy said that the Cook Strait service's change from a three to two-ship fleet had a number of implications for the company and its customers. "The first impact is on our dedicated team, and a formal consultation will begin with them." In the last few weeks the company had talked to its customers and others to confirm its new ship timetable and co-ordinating rail timetable, he said. That included a plan for road bridging rail freight while it had no rail enabled ships, which included new equipment and additional staffing. Roy said more than 2200 passenger bookings had been transferred from Aratere to Kaitaki and Kaiārahi. "If the replacement bookings do not suit customers, they can change the sailing without incurring any change fee or receive a full refund. "Holders of more than 2500 passenger bookings affected by a change in departure time with the move to the new two-ship timetable have also been notified of their new departure time." From August to when the new ferries arrive in 2029 passengers may have to sail at less popular times or be more flexible about the dates they travel, he said. "We recommend booking early for travel during the summer peak season. The Aratere can hold 650 passengers, 230 cars and 28 rail wagons. It made headlines last year when it ran aground near Picton which began with an autopilot mistake. Rail Minister Winston Peters said it would have cost $120 million to keep the Aratere in service.
Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Interislander to retire: Job cuts, travel disruptions expected
The Cook Strait ferry Aratere, grounded near Picton in June last year. Photo: Renee Horncastle via RNZ KiwiRail has announced its Aratere Interislander ferry will retire by the end of August and is warning of job cuts and that passenger and freight capacity will take a hit. The ship is the only vessel in the Interislander's fleet where rail freight can roll on and off it. That means it can't use another wharf in Picton while port upgrades there and in Wellington are underway for two new ferries, set to arrive in 2029. Kaiārahi will go to dry dock in Singapore in late June and when it arrives back in mid to late August, Aratere will retire from service. Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy said it will come out of service no later than August 30. Roy said that the Cook Strait service's change from a three to two-ship fleet had a number of implications for the company and its customers. "The first impact is on our dedicated team, and a formal consultation will begin with them." In the last few weeks the company had talked to its customers and others to confirm its new ship timetable and co-ordinating rail timetable, he said. That included a plan for road bridging rail freight while it had no rail enabled ships, which included new equipment and additional staffing. Roy said more than 2200 passenger bookings had been transferred from Aratere to Kaitaki and Kaiārahi. "If the replacement bookings do not suit customers, they can change the sailing without incurring any change fee or receive a full refund. "Holders of more than 2500 passenger bookings affected by a change in departure time with the move to the new two-ship timetable have also been notified of their new departure time." From August to when the new ferries arrive in 2029 passengers may have to sail at less popular times or be more flexible about the dates they travel, he said. "We recommend booking early for travel during the summer peak season. The Aratere can hold 650 passengers, 230 cars and 28 rail wagons. It made headlines last year when it ran aground near Picton which began with an autopilot mistake. Rail Minister Winston Peters said it would have cost $120 million to keep the Aratere in service.
