KiwiRail board backed diesel engines to keep freight customers, Bridges says

By Paul McBeth
June 8 (BusinessDesk) - KiwiRail's board sided with diesel engines over electric last year for a number of reasons including customer retention in the face of temporary line closures for electricification, Transport Minister Simon Bridges.
Speaking to Parliament's transport and industrial relations select committee, Bridges was asked why the state-owned rail operator chose diesel despite not getting rigorous costings of the options. Bridges told MPs he supported the board's decision, which was based on wide analysis of soc...
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