Articles tagged with Interislander
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KiwiRail Posts $162M Surplus with 11% Freight Growth, Boosting NZ Economy
30 Sep 2026, 6:08 AM | 1 week ago | 239 viewsRail Minister Winston Peters praised KiwiRail's strong annual performance, highlighting a $162 million operating surplus, 11% growth in rail freight revenues, and a 3% increase in freight volumes for the year ending June 2026. He emphasized KiwiRail's vital role in New Zealand's economy, moving a quarter of exports, supporting millions of passenger journeys, and benefiting from investments that have modernized the fleet and improved infrastructure funding. Despite skepticism, KiwiRail has achieved high reliability, particularly with the Interislander service, thanks to dedicated workers and strategic management.
Tags: Winston Peters Suzanne Tindal KiwiRail Thomas the Tank Engine Interislander New Zealand Rail Minister Board Chair State Owned Enterprise Rail freightKiwiRail to Operate New Cook Strait Ferries Kupe and Cook from 2029
17 Jul 2026, 1:43 PM | 2 months ago | 696 viewsThe New Zealand Government has confirmed KiwiRail will operate two new Cook Strait rail ferries, named Kupe and Cook, arriving in 2029 with a 30-year operational plan to ensure a practical and affordable ferry service. The project, capped at $1.7 billion, saves $2.3 billion compared to previous estimates and includes commercial arrangements protecting taxpayers while supporting critical freight routes between Auckland and Christchurch. The programme also features new marine infrastructure, strict project management, and a long-term strategy to maintain rail ferry services for future generations.
Tags: Winston Peters KiwiRail Kupe Cook Cook Strait CentrePort Port Marlborough Ferry Holdings Guangzhou Shipyard International InterislanderMarlborough Council Starts Consultation on $110M Port Marlborough Ferry Upgrade
16 Apr 2026, 10:34 AM | 5 months ago | 1097 viewsThe Marlborough District Council has begun consulting on funding Port Marlborough’s $110 million contribution to revenue-generating port assets in Picton, supporting new resilient ferries for road, rail, and passengers. This initiative, part of a $531 million budget for Picton works, aims to replace ferries while saving taxpayers $2.3 billion and securing long-term infrastructure for the Interislander and Bluebridge services. The proposal is designed to cost no additional ratepayer funds, with dividends from Port Marlborough benefiting the community and taxpayers funding the balance through Ferry Holdings.
Tags: Marlborough District Council Port Marlborough Picton Rail Minister Winston Peters Interislander Bluebridge Local Government Act Ferry Holdings taxpayerKiwiRail Boosts Performance with $73M Surplus and 7% Volume Growth
27 Feb 2026, 11:22 AM | 7 months ago | 1207 viewsKiwiRail has shown significant improvement, achieving a $73.4 million operating surplus and a 7% increase in volumes due to focused commercial discipline and upgraded rolling stock. Investments in modern locomotives, better maintenance funded by legislative changes, and improved infrastructure have enhanced schedule reliability and reduced disruptions from natural events. Additionally, Interislander maintained 100% reliability during peak periods, demonstrating the success of KiwiRail’s strategic focus on reliability, cost control, and asset renewal.
Tags: KiwiRail Winston Peters Suzanne Tindal New Zealand Dunedin Hillside Workshops Stadler locomotives Interislander Infrastructure Commission Rail Minister South IslandGovernment Saves $2.3 Billion with New Interislander Ferries and Infrastructure
19 Nov 2025, 3:30 PM | 10 months ago | 1159 viewsThe Government has secured two new Interislander ferries from Guangzhou Shipyard International under a $596 million fixed-price contract, with the total program costing less than $2 billion and saving taxpayers $2.3 billion by cutting expensive consultancy and excessive infrastructure. Funding for the infrastructure will be recovered through port fees and Interislander is expected to build reserves for future ferry replacements, operating like a normal business. The project is managed by Ferry Holdings with support from CentrePort, Port Marlborough, and KiwiRail, emphasizing fiscal discipline and minimizing disruption, while also strengthening economic ties with China.
Tags: Winston Peters Guangzhou Shipyard International Ferry Holdings CentrePort Port Marlborough KiwiRail Interislander Bluebridge Rail Minister Cook Strait