Wellington’s commuter rail network could have to cut dozens of train services if government funding isn’t provided to repair the city’s rail infrastructure, incoming transport minister Simeon Brown has been told.
“The KiwiRail network remains in a state of decline,” Greater Wellington Regional Council chairperson Daran Ponter said in a briefing to the new transport minister.
If a $750-million funding shortfall was not met, the paper said the Melling Line would not be run at peak weekday times, the Johnsonville Line would be down to one train per hour from four, the Hutt Valley Line would be down to two trains per hour from six, and the Kāpiti Line would be down to three trains per hour from seven.
Ponter also made clear that all remaining services would be run at over-capacity in the peak periods, meaning some passengers would be off-loaded and remaining passengers would experience “sardine-like conditions.”
