Funding for Wellington rail network renewals in Budget 2025 is recognition of the precarious state of the metropolitan network, but ongoing investment is required, says Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter.

The government has allocated $143.6m for critical rail infrastructure renewals in Wellington and Auckland, from a total spend of $604.6m for the last two years of the Rail Network Investment Programme 2024-2027.

Cr Ponter says the funding is essential for fixing broken down track assets and infrastructure that are plaguing the reliability of Metlink passenger services.

“It’s music to my ears to hear the government has taken on board our calls for ongoing investment in rail infrastructure. Greater Wellington stands ready to work with KiwiRail to make the best use of this funding,” Cr Ponter says.

“We’re relieved the Ministers for Transport and Rail understand the relationship between failing track assets, their impact on service reliability and falling passenger numbers.

“To restore commuter confidence in Metlink rail services, the investment announced today is a step towards faster and more punctual trains that reduce the road congestion stifling our region’s economy.”

Greater Wellington Transport Committee chair Thomas Nash says the funding is long overdue and will need to be sustained in future government budgets.

“We’re grateful for this money and pleased the government has acknowledged more investment is required to properly renew its assets on the metropolitan rail network,” Cr Nash says.

“Currently our passenger services are beset by speed restrictions where track infrastructure is aging and cancellations when it fails. This has contributed to a steady decline in rail patronage, now down a third in Wellington from pre-Covid levels.

“Disgruntled rail passengers are continuing to switch to the roads, clogging State Highways and our cities with traffic, increasing carbon emissions and hampering economic activity.”

To reverse this trend, Wairarapa regional councillor Adrienne Staples says between $700m and $900m is needed to renew Wellington rail network assets over the next 10-15 years.

“By confirming its 800-million-dollar investment in the LNIRIM project last year, the government signalled to rail commuters in places like the Wairarapa - it understood their pain,” Cr Staples says.

“I’m sure they join me in calling on the government to sustain its investment in renewing our aged rail network to restore the reliability of Wairarapa rail services and all Metlink passenger trains.”

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