by frog
The good news this week is that after an 8 month delay the government has finally approved a $500 million loan to Kiwirail to purchase electric railcars for Auckland.
According to a Q & A on the Ministry of Transport’s website that should be enough for the Auckland Regional Transport Authority to purchase up to 114 shiny electric multiple units for Auckland. I.e., enough rail cars to meet up passenger demand up until the mid 2020s which is excellent.
There are still a few unanswered questions hopping around my head such as:
- $500 million is definitely enough for the trains. But will the other funding approved for the infrastructure side of the project be enough to cover electrifying the soon to be reopened Onehunga Branch Line? A report leaked earlier this year suggested it wouldn’t be…
- will the loan (rather than grant) to Kiwirail make them less financially viable in the long run?
But overall it’s great news. The ETS may be a giant leap backwards for the climate but this is really a great step forward for public transport in NZ.
Published in Environment & Resource Management by frog on Thu, November 26th, 2009
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Goes to show where National™ Ltd’s real values lie. Would have been better to see the ETS making money from polluters that was then granted to projects such as this.
Down the line, National™ Ltd will also use any unpaid part of the loan to complain about the uneconomic state of KiwiRail. Such a predictable pattern is emerging . . .
Like or Dislike:
5 
0 (+5)
From what I’ve read track access charges should cover the $500 million and interest over the term of the loan, so Kiwirail (SOE) will own the trains, a private operator will operate them (probably, maybe a subsidiary of Kiwirail) and whatever money cannot be recovered from fares will be covered 50%/50% by the new Auckland Auckland Council (rates) and NZTA (taxes)… So users, rate payers and tax payers will cover the loan, at least there is no PPP added to the mix which mean those three groups would not only pay off the (likely smaller) Kiwirail loan but a private businesses loan (which would likely have a higer interest rate)…
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
Indeed new Trains for ALKD is fantastic news… Sadly I think the anouncement is all about the timing of it.
A little Greenwash for Copenhagen…to try to cover the fact NZ Inc has been taken over by short sited, greedy, filthy Facists, who are out to achieve environmental armageddon and debt enslavment the populace.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
Surely despite any benefits, this has to be a really, really bad idea simply for the reason that the “evil National Ltd” peopel are doing it.
Like or Dislike:
0 
5 (-5)
Surely this weeks winner of the “Most Hysterical Post” award.
Tell me, if we’re currently borrowing a billion every two weeks because we can’t afford the services we provide now, how much do you want to go in debt to achieve 40%?
Should we cut services to the bone? Should we raise taxes? Should we force more business and people offshore? Who will pay your benefit?
Like or Dislike:
2 
6 (-4)
Blue Peter…”how much do you want to go in debt to achieve 40%?”…
I think what you are missing here is that achieving the 40% isn’t all about spending money per se… It’s not like we can write a cheque or put it on the tab and the problem has gone away… It starts with taking Personal Responsibility for, and amending our own behaviours.
I must confessed am ammused that the Political Parties that most advocate Personal Responsibility… When provided with the opportuntiy to lead by example… simply wimp out.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
But what 40% does is impose costs on business. This leads to reduced profitability, which leads to reduced taxation, which leads to…well…small schools being closed, for starters.
Let’s say you impose a cost on NZ dairy that a non-ETS dairy country doesn’t have to meet. What happens? They get the contracts, and we lose them. Production ramps up in those countries.
How does this help reduce c02? All you’ve done is shift the place in which it is produced, whilst reducing New Zealands income.
Like or Dislike:
0 
4 (-4)
Blue Peter –
1-No need to close small schools… Expense cutting should start with poorest Capital allocations maybe the RONS (roads of national significance)for example… Oh yeah, It might negatively impact Party donations from Mr Friedlanders friends. Can’t do that.
2-”Let’s say you impose a cost on NZ dairy that a non-ETS dairy country doesn’t have to meet. What happens? They get the contracts, and we lose them.” … It’s not the Contracts we need to worry about… it’s the Customers… Do we command a premium for an ethically produced product proposition… Or are we consigning ourselves to slug it out on price only. Q: What do you supose that is going to do for Incomes and Tax Take?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
So, you’d stop building roads. But if we don’t have enough roads, then the existing roads will get congested. You might argue that people could use public transport, but this is rather expensive, given our low density. Also, people find it difficult to get two kids, luggage and a dog across the country in a bus.
The answer is “No”. It’s a tiny part of the food market. Most people buy on price and taste. If your answer is to target that market exclusively, who – lets face it – aren’t going to like the food miles aspect either as they are heavily into buying local, then you can kiss many of our schools goodbye.
We need to add value, certainly.
Like or Dislike:
0 
3 (-3)
Blue Peter, “So, you’d stop building roads” I don’t think a Country that has the worst emmissions growth for transport fuels in the OECD (1990-2006)should be Investing in New Motorways that don’t even pass the normal Payback criteria is helping anyone but the road transport lobby. See this…> http://www.theage.com.au/national/car-use-driven-by-lack-of-trains-buses-20091120-iqyq.html
recommendation… 1- Buy a Bike. 2-Plant a Vege Garden 3-Replace the Dog with a couple of Chickens… Responsibilty for change begins with ourselves
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Mouse,
Just hate taking the mother in law on the back of my bike. A terrible back seat driver in a car, just imagine on the back of a bike!
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
To you, that may sound ideal, but to me, it sounds very boring.
The dog has also voted against it.
Like or Dislike:
0 
6 (-6)
Swallow a bike, run naked, bar a hat made from live cats through a vegetable garden, tenderize the Dog with a couple of chickens…
It all depends on your approach to life Blue, perhaps it’s you who is boring!
Like or Dislike:
4 
0 (+4)
Gerrit – sidecar! (totally enclosed, soundproof).
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
Greenfly, I’m just not a hippie.
I’m a foodie, I love to travel, I think a car is one of the greatest inventions ever and I think chickens are best eaten, not heard.
I find little of interest, or fun, in the green movement, other than alternative power, which I find fascinating.
Like or Dislike:
1 
10 (-9)
proving that you are a boring fellow indeed and perhaps a little duplicitous as well – nothing of interest in the green movement? Yet here you are, spending time debating green issues on a green blog! How thoroughly odd! You chide the Greens for being boring, yet you voluntarily bore yourself here!
As for Green-fun – I’m not going to try to help you there – you’d only spoil ours!
Like or Dislike:
4 
0 (+4)
Blue Peter, Hmmmm Blue Pill, Red Pill… Let me Guess?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
There are some interesting posters on here – Owen, BJ, Wat and others. And I love the sound of my own voice, obviously
If it were just the party faithful, it wouldn’t be worth participating.
Like whatitsname….g.blog?
Like or Dislike:
0 
6 (-6)
The uninteresting posters ought not to bother you then Blue!
Done!
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
Anyway… Great announcement, electric trains, integrated ticketing, enough to see us through till the end of road focussed policy in 2, 5 or 8 years…
Luckily Labour moved the ball enough in their last two years it couldn’t be put back in the bag…
Like or Dislike:
1 
0 (+1)
Jezza, You’re forgetting that Labour tried to make PT dependent on petrol taxes instead of rates/fares. National is doing us all a favour. In in 2, 5 or 8 years peak oil would have killed off Labour’s funding source for PT. National’s prescient thinking has pulled rail back from the brink of that particular abyss.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0 (+1)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)