For Immediate Release
31 August 2001
Tranz Scenic Services To Stay Open Until October 7
In June, West Coast Railways was announced as the preferred bidder for the Tranz Rail long distance passenger services.
However there were five services the company did not wish to purchase.
The five services being The Southerner, Bay Express, Kaimai Express, Geyserland Express and the Waikato Connection.
Tranz Rail is to close Bay Express, Kaimai Express, Geyserland Express and the Waikato Connection on October 7.
The original date was to have been September 30 but this is in the middle of school holidays and so to assist families
with their travel plans the date has been extended by a week.
The Government last week met with Tranz Rail to discuss an extension to the deadline for The Southerner and those
discussions are continuing.
Tranz Rail has for some time signalled that it intends to get out entirely of passenger services and focus on its core
business of moving freight.
ENDS