Rail Minister, Winston Peters has today announced a plan for two new Interislander rail ferries to enter service in 2029, with the new vessels to be wider and 200 metres longer than the current fleet.
Cabinet today agreed the package, which Mr Peters says will deliver the appropriate ships and infrastructure for the job at a significant saving for the taxpayer.
“Our solution will be markedly cheaper than the cancelled $3.1 billion programme and the $4 billion warning the previous Government received. That’s because of a minimum viable and maximum reuse approach for the port infrastructure,” said the Minister.
“The future Interislander ferries will have road and rail decks, given the efficiency of single shunt movements for multiple rail wagons for loading and unloading.”
The design specifications chosen include vessel lengths of approximately 200 metres – longer and wider than the current fleet, but shorter than the large ferries ordered in 2021, said Mr Peters.
He said that in addition to selecting the appropriate rail ferry specifications, getting the infrastructure right is essential for a cost-effective solution.
“The marine infrastructure in Picton requires replacement, so it will be replaced. The marine infrastructure in Wellington has life left in it, so it will be modified and re-used.
“Our analysis showed this to be the most cost-effective option, and contrasts sharply with the wanton demolition and extravagant specification under the cancelled project, where they assumed almost all costs would be at the taxpayers’ expense.
“We are extraordinarily grateful to our small Ferry Holdings team and the hard work put in across the three companies,” Mr Peters says.
Now the mode and specifications have been selected, the Ferry Holdings Board will shortlist shipyards to compete on price and quality, with a ferry contract awarded later this year. Ferry Holdings will also work with Port Marlborough, CentrePort and KiwiRail to finalise the scope, progress engineering, strengthen the delivery programme and agree co-funding terms.
