Regional Council secures extra funding for Hutt rail line

GWRC today announced it has secured an additional $2.3 million from NZTA to renew sections of the Hutt rail line so that speed restrictions that have caused delays for commuters from the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa can be reduced.

Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Fran Wilde said today that the extra money follows work from KiwiRail at the end of June to replace long sections of corroded rail in the vicinity of Ngauranga station that had required a speed restriction to be in place.

"We've been prioritising people's safety over speed for some time now, and when you have speed restrictions the impact of that can spread throughout the network," she said. "I'm delighted that the result of discussions with KiwiRail is a major step towards getting the Hutt line up to the same standard as the Kapiti line. This will make a big difference for commuters from Wairarapa as well as the Hutt Valley."

NZ Transport Agency Central Region Director Raewyn Bleakley said the Agency was pleased to provide funding support for the renewal of the line.

"We're working with our local government partners to make urban trips easier and more predictable for people, and together with the wider programme of new Matangi trains, station improvements and Park and Ride facilities this work will make the daily commute easier for thousands of people in the region."

KiwiRail Group General Manager Asset Management, Engineering and Innovation, David Gordon, said that the funding is a significant boost for rail infrastructure and train services in the region.

"KiwiRail is continuing its major programme to repair and maintain the quality of the rail infrastructure across Wellington's metro rail network. By completing projects such as the re-railing along Ngauranga, we are able to continue delivering substantial long-term improvements to our network, lift the speed restrictions, and this is good news for our Metro customers. Most of the $2.3 million will be spent on work such as sleeper replacements and bridge repairs and it's this type of work that's essential to keep the network fit for purpose."

The regional council also announced today it has secured access to more powerful and reliable locomotives to haul Wairarapa carriages. The more powerful locomotives, which will be progressively introduced from 1 July, will provide greater acceleration and an improved ability to recover from minor delays and speed restrictions.

ENDS

GWRC Media contact: 022 618 4745