‘Once in a generation’ investment in NZ’s rail

By Jennifer Perry

Changes to the industry include the recent buy back of New Zealands rail network by the Government from Toll NZ; the merger of KiwiRail and ONTRACK to form the New Zealand Railways Corporation (NZRC); the electrification of the rail network in Auckland, and the suburban network expansion in Wellington.
It is in this context that the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) is holding its New Zealand Rail 2009, a one day industry briefing on April 30th to be held in the city of Wellington.
The briefing will include a presentation: Towards an integrated transport system in New Zealand, by Geoff Dangerfield, chief executive, New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA). Dangerfield will be addressing the formation of NZTA, rail safety in New Zealand and integrating transport funding and delivery.
A crown entity that was established on August 1st 2008, NZTA brings together the functions of the former Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand.
...The creation of NZTA represents a desire to strengthen the way in which land transport planning and funding is undertaken, Dangerfield said.
The formation of NZTA, according to Dangerfield, will enhance the responsiveness, performance, capability and value for money of the sector.
By working in partnership with regional and local authorities, the transport industry and communities, he said that NZTA will contribute to an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system.
Providing a vital link between Government policy making and the operation of the transport sector, Dangerfield said NZTA is responsible for Crown revenue of $2.8 billion and allocation of $2 billion, and an operating budget of approximately $240 million.
NZTAs responsibilities include:

. Land transport planning
. Managing the State highway system
. Regulating access to and participation in the land transport network
. Promotion of land transport safety and sustainability
. Allocation of Government funding for land transport
NZTAs regulatory functions include acting as New Zealands rail safety regulator.
Dangerfield said that NZTA is also responsible for licensing and monitoring New Zealands rail industry, overseeing approximately 100 licensees including network operators such as ONTRACK and KiwiRail.
All rail licence holders are required to have a safety system with an overarching safety case approved by the NZTA, which also covers the activities of all rail participants with whom the licence holders have contractual relationships, he said.
As a member of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), NZTA is helping to coordinate and participate in National Rail Safety Week being held in July.
New Zealand Rail 2009 will be a unique platform for Government and industry decision makers to provide stakeholders with insights into the future of New Zealand rail.
See next weeks Rail Express newswire for a report from New Zeland Rail 2009.