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Ministry of Transport

25 July 2024

The Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island.

This includes:

  • A fleet of 18 4-car units, totalling 72 cars
  • Doubling of peak services on both lines and additional off-peak services
  • 15-minute travel time savings for travellers commuting between Wellington and Masterton
  • Increased speeds on the Wairarapa line from 90km/h to 110km/h

The Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility Programme (LNIRIM) is listed as a major public transport project in the Government Policy Statement on land transport and is just one part of the Government's plan to improve rail services across New Zealand.

Read the Transport Minister's media statement here.(external link)