Political party NZ First is again taking aim at the government over the closure of a Northland rail line.
The latest to go is the Kauri to Otiria line, which leader Winston Peters claims will see its last train today.
“Instead of closing lines, which puts more trucks on the roads, KiwiRail should be maintaining them and looking at positive options such as the Waingawa Rail-Road Log Hub which opened in Carterton recently,” peters says.
“Not only is the hub economically viable, locals are delighted that big log trucks are being taken off their roads.
“CentrePort Wellington invested in the hub and worked with locals and KiwiRail to make it happen,” he explains.
“It is in the interests of all of Northland that this same sort of collaborative effort is made by KiwiRail, Northport, and forestry and transport companies rather than running down rail and closing lines, which is what the National government does and wants.”
“Only when we come up with a comprehensive road, rail and shipping strategy will we unlock the economic potential of Northland,” says Peters.
