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Report highlights infrastructure issues on troubled Wairarapa rail line

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Wed, 20 Jun 2018, 5:35AM
The report concluded that improved communication and maintenance procedures would help reduce disruptions on the Wairarapa rail line. (Photo: NZ Herald)
The report concluded that improved communication and maintenance procedures would help reduce disruptions on the Wairarapa rail line. (Photo: NZ Herald)

Report highlights infrastructure issues on troubled Wairarapa rail line

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Wed, 20 Jun 2018, 5:35AM

Masterton's mayor says long-term investment is now needed in the Wairarapa rail line.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council commissioned the investigation after a series of delays and disruptions on the line last year due to rolling stock.

The investigation looks at what can be done to improve faults in their rolling stock and was commissioned after a raft of train disruptions last year which caused delays for commuters.

It concluded that improved communication and maintenance procedures would help reduce disruptions.

Masterton's Mayor Lyn Patterson says the results are great but now there needs to be funding from central government.

"We need to start addressing the big issue and that is the lack of infrastructure and investment in that line."

Greater Wellington Rail Operations Manager Angus Gabara says many of the recommendations had already been implemented.

"The good news is since the Port has been commissioned there has been a 19 per cent reduction in rolling stock failures, and the punctuality of the services has risen to 74 percent in April which is more than twice it was last year."

He says the report showed rolling stock failures only contributed to 4 percent of major delays in 2017.

"If you have a major rolling stock failure it can have quite a detrimental effect on customers getting home or getting to work, so we wanted to make sure everything was being done to eliminate that as much as possible."

 

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