Hello from Pulsarblu

[MotherBear]

Just thought I'd slip this in here, seeing at it's to do with Wellie and mentions trains. ? ;)

$40m boost for Wellington passenger rail
NZPA | Friday, 9 February 2007

Wellington's passenger rail services are to be given a $40 million boost.

The Land Transport NZ (LTNZ) Board has approved $40m in funding for the purchase 12 additional Electrical Multiple Units (EMUs) to boost passenger rail capacity in Wellington.

LTNZ central partnership manager Ian Hunter said the funding was in addition to $145.6m approved in December for the purchase by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) of 58 new EMUs for the suburban rail network.

"The combination of higher petrol prices and increasing traffic congestion between Wellington and Kapiti has lead to a sharp increase in demand for passenger rail ? patronage growth averaged 2.5 per cent over the past five years, but peaked at nearly 9 per cent over the past year," Mr Hunter said.

GWRC is investigating ways of responding to patronage growth in the short term, as the new rolling stock may not be available until 2009/10.

From here .