More than $800 million is needed to improve trains on two of the lower North Island’s main rail lines, say local leaders, who warn ofsimilarreliability problems to those now hitting Cook Strait ferries.
Greater Wellington and Horizons regional councils have asked the Government to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into the Wellington-Palmerston North and Wellington-Masterton services, effectively doubling capacity and giving them another 30 years of life.
The councils have submitted a bid to May’s Government Budget 2023 for a major portion of the $874m cost of their Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility (LNIRIM) proposal.
The money would be spent on 88 new rail cars, station upgrades, and network infrastructure improvements.
