Photo: KiwirailCompanies sending goods up and down the country's railways could begin to favour road transport as KiwiRail manages declining assets, an expert says. KiwiRail is focusing on upgrades and electrification in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga - the so-called "golden triangle" - and other main freight lines while it manages older assets elsewhere. It's preferred option to make "modest improvements" to network reliability and resilience would cost $6 to $7 billion, KiwiRail's Rail Network Investment Programme said. Rail, freight and public transport consultant Michael van Drogenbroek, who used to work for KiwiRail, told Nine to Noon freight lines could become less reliable. Rail Minister Winston Peters said the point of the Rail Network Investment Programme was to "arrest the decline in network condition through prudent renewals of assets and efficient maintenance activity".

Source: Otago Daily Times February 23, 2026 21:44 UTC