Dunne welcomes Matangi trains March commitment
3 February 2012

 Ohariu MP and UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne today welcomed the announcement by KiwiRail and Greater Wellington Regional Council that the new Matangi trains will be operating on the Johnsonville Line from March 19.

Mr Dunne, who has been a long-time campaigner for the retention and upgrading of the Johnsonville line, says having a definite start date for the Matangis is great news, and ensures the line's future for at least the next 30 to 40 years.

“Now they need to deliver. It has been chaos and shifting deadlines and empty promises thus far. They really need to deliver this time,” Mr Dunne said.

KiwiRail and the council announced morning peak hour buses would supplement train services on the Line until March 19 because of ongoing problems with the existing trains.

“Wellington commuters have had to be unbelievably patient for a long time now, and it is fair to say it has been an inauspicious start to 2012 for KiwiRail.

“There is no room for more failures,” Mr Dunne said.