The Government has committed to spending $800 million on new, faster trains for rail routes headed from Palmerston North and Masterton into Wellington.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown, standing on a platform of the Wellington train station early on Thursday morning, announced the $802.9m in spending for the Manawatū and Wairarapa lines, putting a dollar-figure and a delivery date on a commitment made last year by the Labour Government.
But a prior pledge to acquire hybrid electric-battery-diesel trains, as the Greater Wellington and Horizons (Manawatū) regional councils want, has been scratched. Instead, all engine types will be considered as the Government and regional councils begins talks with three shortlisted train builders from next week
