Hillside Workshops Rolls Out 1,000th Rail Wagon Boosting NZ Freight and Jobs

The 1,000th rail wagon has been produced at Dunedin’s Hillside Workshops as part of a government-backed programme assembling 1,350 modern wagons to enhance KiwiRail’s freight network, supporting exporters and regional industries. This initiative revitalized Hillside, creating over 200 construction jobs and employing around 110 staff in mechanical engineering, assembly, and infrastructure, while rebuilding practical rail skills in Dunedin. The new wagons improve rail reliability, contribute to freight solutions across New Zealand, and position the country to have one of the youngest rail freight fleets globally.