Greg Miller has resigned as Group Chief Executive of KiwiRail after the Rail and Maritime Transport Union announced two planned strikes in the leadup to Christmas echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Strike action by rail workers is set to paralyse KiwiRail operations next month, affecting both rail and ferry transport. Continue →

KiwiRail has leased an additional freight ferry on the Cook Strait after New Zealand’s supply chain was suddenly left vulnerable following the failure of one of its three ferries, says Chief Executive Greg Miller echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The Valentine ferry is completing technical due diligence in England now, ahead of sailing to New Zealand. Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);After four years of uncertainty and $35 million of planning, rapid transit between Auckland CBD and the airport has finally been narrowed down to three options – Greater Auckland investigates The government has released the recommendations from the Auckland Light Rail team (ALR), ahead of this being considered by Cabinet later this year. Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);Talks are currently underway with New Zealand architects and construction leaders around the design of the new airport, which will support $240m of trade and a post-Covid tourism market The new development will allow Kiwi tourists to fly direct to Tonga’s main tourism hub Vava’u for the first time as well as expanding trade access for a wider range of goods and services. Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);KiwiRail has announced a new weekday rail service between Auckland and Christchurch to help New Zealand businesses grappling with disrupted ports and shipping lines The NZ Connect service will boost capacity and connections for moving domestic freight between the North and South Islands in time for peak season, says KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller. Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);The National Land Transport Programme 2021-24 finally gets road maintenance funding at the level it needs to be, but it will not be enough to catch up with years of deferred maintenance, says Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Silcock The three-year, $24.3b National Land Transport Programme 2021-24 announced this week by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, features a more than 24 per cent increase in State Highway and local road maintenance. Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);Singapore-Australia joint venture, Auckland One Rail, will take over Auckland’s passenger rail network after 18 years of operation by Transdev Auckland Transport has given a contract for the delivery of rail services in Auckland to Auckland One Rail (AOR), a joint venture between Singapore-based public transport operator ComfortDelGro and Australian rail operations and maintenance provider UGL.  Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);The Government has rejected Waka Kotahi’s proposal to toll the new extension of Auckland’s Northern Motorway after facing strong opposition from the local community The $877.5m project is expected to be completed next year and will extend the four-lane Northern Motorway (SH1) 18.5km from the Johnstone’s Hill tunnels to just north of Warkworth. Continue →

A 40-seat battery-driven drone bus will be in the air for cargo in 2022 and passengers in 2023 if the FAA approves Braeden Kelekona’s creation comes to life as an aircraft resembling a futuristic blimp capable of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL). Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);Following a protest on Auckland’s harbour bridge, the Government has given the green light to a second harbour crossing for cyclists and pedestrians while other transport projects are axed nationwide Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced the Northern Pathway, a bridge exclusively for cyclists and pedestrians to travel between Central Auckland’s Westhaven and the North Shore. Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);The Government has committed $1.3b for rail in Budget 2021, building on previous Budget investments of $1.2b in 2020 and $1b in 2019, but where is all the money going? Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);Rail will now be funded from the National Land Transport Fund, the same pot used for road infrastructure and paid for by road taxes Rail provides $1.7 billion to $2.1 billion in value to New Zealand each year, according to an Ernst and Young report.  Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);The collapse of a Mexico City bridge which killed 25 people prompts us to look at our own bridges, many now handling loads they were not originally expected to carry Government infrastructure spending boosts may provide a welcome opportunity to upgrade many of Australasia’s 57,000-plus bridges, some of which are in sore need of maintenance. Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);The interim review of Wellington’s Transmission Gully motorway project has identified weaknesses in New Zealand’s PPP procurement process and has made recommendations to make sure this never happens again Transmission Gully has long been a dog of a project, says Greater Auckland’s Matt Lowrie. Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);The opening of a new South Auckland cycling project designed to improve access for cyclists to public transport hubs has led to an immediate increase in children biking to school The new privately funded cycle network at Drury South Crossing, New Zealand’s largest industrial and residential development, has created 9km of urbanised cycle paths that will provide thousands of local residents with safe walking or bike access to Drury Central – one of three new train stations planned for the Drury area. Continue →

echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);The Government’s new light rail establishment unit represents an opportunity to rethink the wider transport and development vision for Auckland to tackle congestion, carbon and housing affordability challenges, says Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director, Hamish Glenn The Government announced this week it is setting up a new Establishment Unit to evaluate options for rapid transit between the city centre and Mangere. Continue →

The Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) 2021-31 package will invest $31 billion into critical transport infrastructure and services across Auckland, but it faces criticism for failing to tackle the big issues ATAP largely reflects and builds upon the $28 billion 2018 package, which focussed on developing a rapid transit network, walking and cycling, safety and unlocking growth. Continue →

The Auckland Light Rail has the potential to revolutionise the city’s public transport network – but only if done right, says Anderson Lloyd Partner, Anton Trixl The Auckland Light Rail was one of the most ambitious projects for the Auckland region, set to transform the public transport network. Continue →

Tolling strategic corridors on the Auckland road network will reduce congestion by 8-12%, finds a report from the Ministry of Transport The report explores a number of different congestion pricing systems used overseas to reduce congestion and improve travel times. Continue →