The Transport Minister says maintenance to keep the country's railways working is long overdue. 

Chris Bishop, alongside Rail Minister Winston Peters, announced $461 million for the rail freight network, and an additional $143 million for Auckland and Wellington's metropolitan trains. 

It's ahead of this week's Budget announcement. 

Bishop told Mike Hosking more will be needed in the future to keep Auckland and Wellington's trains running. 

He says successive governments have neglected rail maintenance. 

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