KiwiRail confirms it will tender for wagon fleet

KiwiRail media statement 9 November, 2010 For immediate release

KiwiRail confirms it will tender for replacement of wagon fleet

KiwiRail will submit its own bid to build new freight wagons to replace its ageing wagon fleet, KiwiRail Chief Executive Jim Quinn confirmed today.

Expressions of interest close late next week for the supply of 300 wagons required as the first stage in the process.

Mr Quinn said KiwiRail will need to replace more than 3,000 wagons as it implements its Turnaround Plan.

"I can confirm that our workshops will bid for the work and that bid will be considered as part of the overall tendering process," he said

"We must be commercial as a business. That means running a robust tender process and ensuring we get the best possible deal when all factors are taken into account.

"We have faith in the capability of our workshops to carry out the work, but they also need to prove they are competitive with other suppliers.

"As a result of mechanical problems with some of our existing wagon fleet and the growing needs of customers, we will need 300 wagons delivered by July next year to ensure that wagon availability does not become the limiting factor to our growth potential.

"The process will establish our competitiveness on all dimensions - cost, quality and the ability to deliver the volume in the time required," he said.

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