Brendan Horan MP
Spokesperson for Transport
16 August 2012

Government Eyes Closure of Napier-Gisborne Railway – NZ First

New Zealand First says leaked KiwiRail documents show job losses on the East Coast indicate the Government intends to mothball the damaged Napier to Gisborne line, heaping misery on the region.

Transport spokesperson Brendan Horan says the intended closure was further highlighted when a parliamentary committee chaired by National MP David Bennett refused to accept a petition signed by more than 10,000 people wanting to keep it open.

“Along with new, unfair road user charges, closing the railway will hammer exporters and manufacturers on the East Coast and surrounding rural areas.”

Mr Horan says this downsizing of KiwiRail, along with a catalogue of safety issues throughout the country, paints a black picture for our railway system.

“It is time the Government launched an official investigation into the board and management of KiwiRail and their obligations to all New Zealand taxpayers.”

ENDS

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