Transport LATE Moves To Next Stage Of Establishment

Auckland Regional Transport Network Ltd, the legal entity owned by the councils of the Auckland region, has moved to a significant stage in its establishment.

The chairman of ARTN Ltd, Mr Ross Keenan, confirmed today the company was now a legal commercial entity owned by the councils of the region. It has established an office and appointed Mr Graeme Campbell as Corporate Development Manager to co-ordinate the establishment process.

ARTNL Ltd is a local authority trading enterprise charged with holding the rail assets and improving public passenger transport in the Auckland region.

It will manage the region’s rail corridors once the Crown has negotiated the transfer from Tranz Rail and also hold assets that are considered appropriate in developing a fully-integrated transport network.

Mr Keenan said the appointment of Mr Campbell was crucial to the establishment of the company.

“It’s important that the company is established in a professional manner, prioritises its tasks and develops the networks it needs throughout the region,” said Mr Keenan.

“ This development is timely given the recent commitment by the ARC-led forums to a programme ensuring continuity towards a fully-integrated transport system.”

While the immediate focus was on securing the rail corridor transfer, Mr Keenan said it was important for ARTN Ltd to be seen – as its name suggests – to represent a regional transport network which will encompass all public passenger transport modes.

“The councils of the region – to whom ARTN is responsible – have been quite specific in charging us with working towards a first-class regional passenger transport system and that is exactly what we’re going to do,” said Mr Keenan.

“The company is now in its first establishment phase and this is exciting as we work towards putting together a business plan of action which will make that happen.”

Mr Keenan said the appointment of Mr Campbell was critical in this phase of establishment.

“Graeme has previous experience in establishing a new business as he did with me when Ansett New Zealand first operated here,” said Mr Keenan, “so he knows all the necessary procedures, protocols and networks.”

While it is not intended the company would employ a chief executive or other senior staff in the early stage of its development, it is important an experienced executive develop and manage the company in its formative stages.

Mr Campbell has considerable executive management expertise in the aviation industry and has broad experience across the strategic, commercial, operational, relationship and marketing portfolios of the transport sector.

His role is to provide professional and commercial advice to the board of ARTNL and to work with key personnel in the Auckland Regional Council, Infrastructure Auckland, Tranz Rail and officers of the shareholding councils.

ENDS

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