22 February 2018
Kiwirail shortfall the result of its own short-sightedness
Kiwirail’s lower-than-expected revenue result for the past half-year is the predictable result of its own short-sighted
thinking, says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.
“Kiwirail chairman Trevor Janes is blaming earthquakes and old locomotives requiring maintenance – but conveniently
forgetting why those old locomotives are still in service,” says Wayne Butson, general secretary of the RMTU, which
represents more than 4,600 workers in rail, roading and ports.
“The fact is, Kiwirail shut down local manufacturing at the Hillside workshops in Dunedin and chose to import
locomotives from China to save money. These models have been a nightmare – unreliable, full of asbestos, and constantly
delayed.
“The old DC locomotives wouldn’t be running, and requiring expensive repairs, if Kiwirail had bought Kiwi-made and
supported Kiwi manufacturing.
“We hope this result serves as an example of why our public infrastructure needs to be run for the good of New Zealand,
not the bottom line.”
The RMTU is pleased that Kiwirail chair Trevor Janes did acknowledge the hard work and excellent results produced by
Kiwirail’s employees, despite these challenges.
ENDS