Social networks Twitter and Facebook could play a part in
pushing the case for the Hillside Engineering Group Dunedin
workshops to build flat-deck wagons for its owner KiwiRail.
The Otago Daily Times through this writer's
@mackersline Twitter account, and Craigs Investment Partners
brokers Chris Timms @ChrisTimmsNZL and Peter McIntyre
@macthebroker yesterday tweeted their support for the
workshops.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie
(@OtagoChamber) said "count me in" when contacted about the
campaign.
Mr Timms wrote: "KiwiRail-owned Hillside Workshops misses out
on a $29m contract when KiwiRail awards it to a Chinese
company. What's all that about John!"
Twitter users are being asked to send a message to Prime
Minister John Key @johnkeypm to support Hillside building the
wagons in Dunedin.
It is likely a Facebook page will be launched this week in
support of the workshops.
Hillside workers were told on Tuesday that China CNR
Corporation would build the first 300 of 3000 flat-deck
wagons KiwiRail wanted to replace its ageing fleet.
Hillside's was the third-best of nine tenders but was still
25% more expensive than the tender prepared by CNR, the
company contracted to build KiwiRail's new fleet of DL
Locomotives.
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