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On Track For Action On Stratford Line
29 August 2007
On Track For Action On Stratford Line
A key Government agency has agreed to assess the state of the Stratford-Taumarunui rail link and cost out the upgrades sought by a coalition of Taranaki and central North Island organisations.
Ontrack, which administers rail infrastructure in New Zealand, made the commitment at a meeting this week of the Stratford-Okahukura Line (SOL) Working Party, the coalition formed when the line was closed to passenger trains earlier this year due to safety concerns.
Working Party Chairman Roger Maxwell is hailing Ontrack’s move as a positive step in the campaign to have the line upgraded to cope with passenger trains as well as increased freight traffic.
Mr Maxwell, a member of the Taranaki Regional Council, says rail operator Toll NZ is also enthusiastic about retaining and improving the line, as are potentially large freight users including Port Taranaki.
As well as representatives of the Regional Council, Toll and Ontrack, the Working Party has members from the New Plymouth, Stratford and Ruapehu District Councils, the Horizons Regional Council, Venture Taranaki, Port Taranaki and other key commercial users including Kiwi Tours, Riverlands, PPCS and Fonterra.
Ontrack closed the SOL to passenger trains in January, saying deferred maintenance on the line from Te Wero eastwards had made it unsafe because of its isolation and lack of cellphone coverage.
The passenger ban was described as a “kick in the guts” for Whangamomona, a popular destination for steam train excursions.
And the SOL’s strategic importance was highlighted in March, when Auckland-Wellington rail traffic was diverted to it after a truck crash closed a rail bridge on the Main Trunk Line near Marton.
Mr Maxwell says it is accepted that SOL is an important part of Taranaki's infrastructure and it’s pleasing that both Toll and Ontrack are positive about its future.
He says it is planned to have the assessments and upgrade costings available before the end of the year. They will form part of a package being prepared for presentation to key parties, such as Government Ministers, lobbying for additional funds for maintenance and upgrading of the line.
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