Multi-million dollar upgrade to Auckland rail

The Government has announced how it will spend a multi-million dollar boost to Auckland's rail network.

Double-tracking Auckland's Western Line, signalling upgrades, linking the southern rail corridor to Manukau City and reconfiguring Newmarket junction will all benefit from the money.

However, the lack of a plan to introduce electrification was criticised by the Green Party.

The package, promised as part of Labour's transport election policy, will see between $450 million and $600 million spent over the next three to four years.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Transport Minister David Parker made the announcement today. Dr Cullen said improved rail could improve Auckland's traffic congestion.

"This government sees rail as an important key to reducing traffic congestion, particularly in south and west Auckland," he said.

The region's councils, through the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA), will keep responsibility for paying for trains and stations.

Operating costs of the rail network will continue to be funded on their current basis, with the Government picking up 60 per cent of the tab and ARTA 40 per cent.

The money would be managed through Vote Finance, rather than routed through Land Transport New Zealand, to give ministers greater control over decision making and to speed progress.

The Green Party's Auckland Transport spokesman Keith Locke said: "It is disappointing this money doesn't cover electrification, which is both vital for a modern public transport system and the best option for reducing carbon emissions even further.

"Electrification needs a green light pretty urgently, so Auckland Regional Transport Authority can plan the purchase of electric rather than diesel rolling stock."

He added: "And while we support linking the southern rail corridor with Manukau's city centre, this should be built as part of a larger rail project running from the airport through Manukau City and Botany Downs to connect with the Eastern line."

A spokesman from Dr Cullen's office said no decision had yet been reached on where the money contained in the announcement would come from. Several options existed and a paper on these would be presented to Cabinet early next year.

One option would be paying for it through money already set aside in the transport budget. Another would be to pay for it with new money over and above that already set aside for transport spending.

- NZPA, HERALD ONLINE STAFF