The first of 48 new trains Wellington is getting are in town
and will be hitting the tracks in December.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the new Matangi trains
would be more reliable and comfortable.
The first two-car unit would be in operation from December
with possibly a second pressed into action around the same
time.
The government committed $258 million through a Crown
appropriation to the Greater Wellington Regional Council for
a commuter upgrade, with further funds directed to KiwiRail.
The new trains would eventually replace old stock bought in
1982. Some of the trains were built in the 1950s and were
brought back into service from museums to meet demand.
"Improving the rolling stock is equally as important as the
rail upgrade and that's been underway over the past two
years.
"The rail upgrade has caused its share of pain because
KiwiRail has been upgrading the network in the limited
windows of opportunities when trains aren't running.
Inevitably that puts pressure on infrastructure that is in
some cases more than 50 years old."
Disability Issues Minister Pansy Wong said the train design
would help people with disabilities. There were floor areas
for wheelchairs and mobility scooters and under floor ramps
which folded out on to the platform. There was also a hearing
loop for the hearing impaired.
Green Party MP Sue Kedgley said the trains would be a welcome
addition to the Wellington rail commuter service, which had
suffered huge disruptions in recent months.
"It's fantastic to have the new trains, which Wellingtonians
have been waiting years for.
"What we now need is to restore credibility to the service by
getting the trains to run on time and provide a more reliable
service," she said.
However, it would be better if the trains were able to
accommodate bicycles at peak hour, she said.
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