KEY POINTS:
Former prime minister Jim Bolger is tipped to be the chairman of a new company that will run the railways and the ferries.
The Government announced last month it had bought them back from Toll Holdings for $665 million, and promised to invest millions in rolling stock and other improvements.
It is due to announce on Tuesday details of the new company that will run them, how they will be run and the new colours for the trains.
TV One News reported tonight it had been able to confirm from several sources that Mr Bolger would be the chairman of the new rail company.
It would not be an unusual appointment - Mr Bolger's business skills are highly regarded by the Government and it put him in charge of Kiwibank when it was launched.
It also appointed him chairman of NZ Post, a position he has held for several years.
Because Mr Bolger is a former National Party leader, appointing him to head the rail company would blunt criticism from opposition politicians.
National criticised the Government's decision to buy back the railways, but it has given assurances it won't sell the network again if it wins the election.
- NZPA
