Confirmation none of the Government's $1.2 billion rail investment in Budget 2020 will include Hillside workshops has been labelled a "staggering act of hypocrisy" by Dunedin National list MP Michael Woodhouse.
Thursday's Budget included $400 million to replace the Interislander ferries and improve portside infrastructure, $246 m towards investment in track and supporting infrastructure, and $421m for new wagons and locomotives.
KiwiRail group chief executive Greg Miller yesterday said there were no plans for any work funded by Budget 2020 to be undertaken at Dunedin's Hillside workshops.
"As New Zealand does not have the capability to build locomotives, or ferries, they will have to be sourced overseas, and it's unlikely specialist landside infrastructure for the ferries, such as linkspans, which allow trains and vehicles to get on and off the ferries, could be built in New Zealand.
"The funding for making the rail network reliable and resilient is for work that will be undertaken on-site across the country.