Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Fenton Wilson is speaking to KiwiRail chief executive Jim Quinn today after major land slips earlier this week damaged parts of the Napier-Gisborne railway line, casting doubts over its future.
Mr Wilson has supported Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon's request that KiwiRail consider all options before considering permanently closing the line, and urged Hawke's Bay's mayors and leaders to do the same.
The Napier-Gisborne railway line had previously been earmarked by Transport Minister Steven Joyce as one of four railways that could be mothballed, after losses of well over $2 million a year.
Mr Wilson said he supported the repair and reinstatement of the railway.
"Rail plays an important role in servicing Northern Hawke's Bay and Hawke's Bay Regional Council certainly supports the repair and reinstatement of the line."