Archive for March, 2010

NZ Rail Strategy: Crunch Time Looms For KiwiRail Ahead Of Budget

KiwiRail gets a pass mark for its 10-year plan, now in the hands of Govt and officials. Transport Minister Steven Joyce says it is “an honest effort” though it is too early to say to what extent the Govt will support it. Joyce made clear the future of rail doesn’t just reside in the Beehive. […]

Read more ...

NZ Rail Sector: KiwiRail seeks suppliers for Auckland’s trains

KiwiRail has formally contacted international railway rolling stock suppliers who may be interested in building the fleet of new electric commuter trains for Auckland. The rail company has issued an engagement document to formally alert suppliers to its needs, confirming a requirement for up to 38 three-car electric multiple unit trains, each with about 240 […]

Read more ...

Aviation Security: USA seeks broader commitment to aviation security

US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano was attending her third aviation security conference this year when she flew into Tokyo this month for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security. Top of her agenda has been to get a commitment from countries to tighten security further in the wake of the failed attack on […]

Read more ...

NZ Rail Policy: Crunch Time Looms For KiwiRail Ahead Of Budget

KiwiRail gets a pass mark for its 10-year plan, now in the hands of Govt and officials. Transport Minister Steven Joyce says it is “an honest effort” though it is too early to say to what extent the Govt will support it. Joyce made clear the future of rail doesn’t just reside in the Beehive. […]

Read more ...

NZ Exports: Zespri Speeds deliveries to Europe, Asia

Zespri is the first customer of Tokyo-based Fresh Carriers Co to take space in MV Lady Rosebay on its maiden voyage to Zeebrugge in Europe. The company says Rosebay is “one of the fastest ships ever used by Zespri.” Its 6062m3 cargo hold is able to stow about 4700 pallets of kiwifruit, plus a further […]

Read more ...

NZ Roads: Route work starts on Wellsford - Puhoi highway

Work is expected to start soon on community consultations on the proposed Puhoi Wellsford motorway extension. This follows NZ Transport Agency’s awarding a $12m contract for route investigation on a proposed 38km highway, to be conducted by engineering and environmental specialists Sinclair Knight Mertz. It is expected to take 15 months. However, NZTA is expecting […]

Read more ...

NZ Rail Investment: Long term Investment Key To KiwiRail’s Success

Sustained investment in KiwiRail’s infrastructure and rolling stock will be essential to the state owned railway company achieving long term financial viability. KiwiRail’s Chief Financial Officer David Walsh says over recent months the SOE has been reviewing the business to assess the long term investment required if the Govts annual $90m operating subsidy is to […]

Read more ...

Road Technology: New Traffic Technology For SH1 Wellington

New technology to improve safety, traffic flow and on-road information is being introduced for Wellington motorway users. New electronic ‘Lane Control Signs’ on SH1 from the Terrace Tunnel in Wellington city to Ngauranga Gorge will be ready to go next month. Mounted on gantries and bridges straddling the motorway, the Lane Control Signs will display […]

Read more ...

Ports Sector: Ports volume weakens but logs show resilience

Both Port of Tauranga and Lyttelton Port Co reported a jump in log volumes in the first half, a period characterised by cost cutting as overall volumes weakened. Tauranga is finding it has to put the hard yards into its Metroport inland port in Auckland. Having taken the battle to Ports of Auckland’s backyard, it […]

Read more ...

NZ Rail Industry: Deferred Maintenance Catch-Up A KiwiRail priority

The National Infrastructure Plan reiterates the Govt wants KiwiRail weaned off its $90m-a-year operating subsidy “over time” but says there are unanswered questions related to rail’s potential higher value under the Emissions Trading Scheme, smarter demand management and more targeted road pricing. What the Plan does do is note consideration must be given to “preserving […]

Read more ...