AusRAIL, Market Sectors

Kiwis rail over Toll progress on New Zealand track deal

<p>Toll’s New Zealand honeymoon appears to be over after key transport industry players lashed the company’s progress on returning the track network to government ownership.</p> <p>New Zealand’s Rail and Maritime Transport Union said it had lost patience with Toll Holdings for dragging its feet on the government track buyback deal, which is supposed to be completed by June 30, the <em>New Zealand Herald</em> reported today (Friday, June 18).</p> <p>The union said it is fed up with the "Australian bully boys" and the "absolute arrogance" of Toll New Zealand’s management.</p> <p>And transport minister Michael Cullen was reported as threatening legislation to force Toll to hand back the track network.</p> <p>The <em>Australian</em> (Thursday, June 17) reported that Dr Cullen accused Toll of dragging its heels on the deal to try and gain a tax advantage. </p> <p>Talks had stalled because Toll wanted agreement on other issues, including access fees, Dr Cullen said. </p> <p>However, Toll managing director Paul Little was reported to be "mystified" by Dr Cullen’s comments, saying the issues were about "10 weeks out of date" and that the track deal was just days from completion.</p> <br />