Body of missing student recovered from caves, what’s in store weather-wise after another day of heavy rain and why the government could change the law for the Rugby World Cup in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald
OPINION
KiwiRail’s reputation has been seriously damaged by last-minute chaotic disruptions to ferry and train services in Wellington.
KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reidy has repeatedly apologised to Wellingtonians for the disruption. Photo / Duncan Brown.
The Government has funded two new ferries to replace Interislander’s ageing fleet and Transport Minister Michael Wood has criticised National for years of deferred investment.
But National’s transport spokesman Simeon Brown says he doesn’t believe such a proposal was ever put forward to the former Government.
The solution? The ferries will spend more time out of service for planned maintenance that can be signalled well in advance instead of last-minute cancellations.
In his March briefing, Reidy also said the ferry service disruption “has worn thin for customers”.
It seems such disruptions have worn thin for the Government too.
These people are not going on holiday to the South Island, they are trying to get to school, work, and appointments.
Confidence in the trains is being shaken at a time when we are trying to encourage people on to public transport and out of their cars to tackle climate change.
I’m not convinced heads should roll over it, although it might be a different story if the disruption lasted weeks instead of three days or if the review uncovers major systemic problems.
Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Daran Ponter also doubted restructuring was necessary but said a culture change is in order.
He said dealing with KiwiRail felt more like dealing with an engineering company that focused on freight, rather than an organisation that also has a lot of passengers relying on its track network.
Asked whether people should lose their jobs over it, Wood said that was not the intention at this stage and KiwiRail’s Board maintained the confidence of the Government.
But he did say KiwiRail was on notice.
Maintenance is the common thread between KiwiRail’s beleaguered Interislander ferries and the tracks it is responsible for in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
KiwiRail has already fronted up over the trains, apologised, and its national HR operations manager even called the fault “embarrassing” for the company.
That’s all well and good but the independent review will provide some much-needed answers because KiwiRail’s reputation and public trust in its ability to do its job properly is of national concern.
After all, it maintains New Zealand’s 3700km rail network and a further 800km of rail in associated yards.
More to the point, it also looks after the rail network that suburban passenger services run on in Auckland and Wellington.
KiwiRail’s rail failure couldn’t come at a worse time for Wellington and is the icing on the cake for a transport network suffocating under the weight of a great slowdown.
