Budget 2025: Rail rolls on with $600m for upgrades

The Crown will provide $604.6 million through Budget 2025 to improve the national rail network. (Image: KiwiRail)

Tue, 20 May 2025

The Government will provide $604.6 million for rail upgrades as part of Budget 2025, focusing on the busiest parts of the freight network and commuter lines in Auckland and Wellington.The funding, announced by Rail Minister Winston Peters and Transport Minister Chris Bishop in Wellington on Tuesday, is made up of $461m for KiwiRail to maintain and renew the national freight network and $143.6m to upgrade the Auckland and Wellington metropolitan networks.The Auckland network, in particular, has received significant funding in recent years to pre...

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