Brendan Horan MP
Spokesperson for Transport

24 August 2012

Napier-Gisborne Railway Future Up In the Air – NZ First

New Zealand First is renewing calls for the Government to reveal whether it intends to close the Napier-Gisborne railway line.

Transport spokesperson Brendan Horan first called for the information to be released during Question Time in Parliament in May.

“They dodged the question then and continue to do so today.

“I reiterate a statement I made earlier this month in which I said job losses on the Napier–Gisborne line indicate that the Government intends to close that line.”

Mr Horan says the Government’s KiwiRail Turnaround Plan is nothing more than a thinly veiled attack on our national railway.

“We have over the past few months continually asked the Government for reassurances that rail safety wasn’t being compromised by this deeply flawed Turnaround Plan.

“Our position hasn’t changed and our concerns remain valid.”

New Zealand First has never received a copy of the leaked KiwiRail document that is subject to a High Court injunction. Nor has it read a copy.

“KiwiRail is a public entity which is funded by hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.

‘The public has a right to know about Government plans to run down this vital component of our transport infrastructure.

“This reeks of a cover-up,” says Mr Horan.

ENDS

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