“Local Co-Operative Bid to Save the Gisborne Line is Lodged”
PRESS RELEASE: GISBORNE RAIL COOPERATIVE – STEERING GROUP LODGES EOI TO KIWIRAIL – GISBORNE TO WAIROA.
23 DECEMBER 2016
GISBORNE RAIL COOPERATIVE STEERING GROUP, GRC, INTERIM CHAIR IS PLEASED THAT THE GROUPS PROPOSAL TO THE KIWIRAIL
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST ROUND WAS SUBMITTED BEFORE THE DEADLINE 2:00PM; 21 DECEMBER, 2016.
“THE GRC PROPOSAL INCORPORATED COMMERCIAL FREIGHT AND TOURISM” SAYS INTERIM CHAIR, NiKKI SEARANCKE, “WE SUPPORT THE
GISBORNE VINTAGE RAIL WHICH PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN TAKING TOURS TO MURIWAI PRESENTLY AND WE ARE SURE THAT TOURS TO BEACH
LOOP AND BEYOND WOULD BE AN INTERNATIONAL WINNER.” “ON THE COMMERCIAL FREIGHT SIDE OF GISBORNE THERE ARE MORE THAN 20
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE INDICATED THEIR NEED FOR FULL CONTAINERISATION BY RAIL OUT OF GISBORNE.”
FURTHER, GRC WELCOMES THE SUPPORT OF THE HAWKES BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL & TRANSPORT COMMITTEE TO THE GRC PROPOSAL. “WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT THE SUBMISSION BY THEIR COMMITTEE CHAIR ALAN DICK
SUPPORTS US, THEY ALSO NEED TO CARRY FREIGHT FROM KOPUAWHARA TO NAPIER.”
LAST YEAR, HAWKES BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL, PORTS OF NAPIER AND KIWIRAIL SECURED AN AGREEMENT FOR FREIGHT TO ONCE AGAIN USE
THE NAPIER TO WAIROA RAIL LINE.
RECENTLY, ON THE 7 NOVEMBER, THE GRC STEERING GROUP HOSTED A RAIL FORUM WITH POLITICAL PARTY SPEAKERS AND STU DOW, RAIL
EXPERT. “THERE WAS SUPPORT FROM ALL PARTIES PRESENT TO RESTORE THE RAIL LINE TO ENSURE GISBORNE’S FREIGHT VOLUME CAN BE
MOVED EFFICIENTLY AND QUICKLY THROUGH TO THE MARKET PLACE; AND BRING TOURISTS TO GISBORNE” SAID SEARANCKE.
STU DOW RECENTLY OUTLINED OPTIONS FOR OPERATING A LOG SHUTTLE SERVICE FROM LOG STORAGE TO PORT EASTLAND IN THE GISBORNE
HERALD.