KiwiRail to close flood-damaged line    PDF    Print    E-mail
Monday, April 23, 2012

KIWIRAIL has decided to close the northern half of the 212 km Gisborne - Napier line on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island which was badly damaged by flooding last month.
 

The heavy rain severed the line in three places between Wairoa and Gisborne with the trackbed completely washed away in several locations. KiwiRail estimates it could cost up to $NZ 4.3m ($US 3.5m) to repair the line and another $NZ 3.5m - $NZ4m a year for maintenance because of the need to replace life-expired infrastructure.

Prior to closure, the line was generating just $NZ 1m a year in freight revenue mainly seasonal fresh produce.
Report by Richard Worrall