Kiwirail’s $25m Freight Project

KiwiRail’s new track maintenance fleet was commissioned this afternoon, part of a $25 million project to improve the efficiency and quality of rail track maintenance.

Speaking at the event, KiwiRail Chairman Jim Bolger said that with freight volumes forecast to increase by 75 per cent over the next twenty years, KiwiRail was targeting investment to those lines which carry the heaviest freight volumes.

“Our aim is build capacity and reliability to meet customer demand.”

Transport Minister Steven Joyce ‘turned the key’ on the ballast cleaner machine at a ceremony in KiwiRail’s freight depot in Te Rapa  officially marking the fleet’s commissioning for operation on the network.

The busiest rail freight route is the ‘golden triangle’ between Auckland and Tauranga so the Ballast Cleaner Group will spend its first year of operation in that area.

Mr Bolger said: “If rail is to meet the demands of a modern freight network, then it needs the right tools of the trade to do so. When people think about rail, they think about trains but often forget that trains need a network to run on. When track condition is poor this impacts on KiwiRail’s ability to offer reliable, efficient and competitive services to its customers. “

As well as improving the condition of the track, the new fleet will improve the efficiency of track maintenance work, reducing the impact on freight movements. The Ballast Cleaner Group fleet includes a ballast cleaner machine which screens ballast, recycling what can be re-used and disposing of waste. Material handling wagons allow the cleaner to operate efficiently by ensuring a continuous flow of new ballast in and reject material out. The other equipment helps restore the track to operational line speed following cleaning.

Minister Steven Joyce said the equipment will be put to work on key freight routes, beginning with the East Coast Main Trunk Line.

Not only would it maintain the condition of the track to a higher standard at a reduced cost, it would improve performance by enabling more consistent and higher speeds on the network.

He said the new equipment will complement other rail improvement work in the region.

Environment Waikato recently confirmed the final allocation of $13 million of Joint Officials Group funding for rail will be spent on improving the capacity, reliability and safety of the network. Work will include level crossing upgrades and initiatives to encourage use of rail including improvements to the Te Rapa container transfer site.

The minister echoed the view that freight carried across all transport modes is set to increase by 75 percent over the next 25 years, and rail will play an important role.  He said more than 900 freight trains cross the country each week, and a huge amount of this is moved within this area between Hamilton, the Bay of Plenty and Auckland.

“A rail network that operates in a robust and commerical manner and is able to respond to the increasing demands to carry the goods and people that drive our economy is an essential part of the mix. This equipment is a positive step towards ensuring this happens.”