Speaking to the 2016 NZ Rail Conference, Fergus, who took up the role of Chief Executive in March, says our customers expect all parts of the land transport system to work together, to support a top performing economy and quality of life for New Zealanders.
For rail, the vital question is what role it will play in an integrated system in the future.
The national rail network has an important role in better connecting New Zealand and providing access to markets. Rail currently handles around 30 per cent of containerised exports on their last move through to our busiest ports. With most of our primary exports originating in our regions, we are looking at how the transport system can most effectively move those goods to market.
“Our customers tell us that achieving greater integration between road and rail will make a significant difference to achieving freight efficiency. With freight volumes forecast to grow by around 50 per cent over the next 25 years, achieving greater efficiency in freight movement will help realise the government’s goal of greater economic growth,” Fergus says.
“I see real opportunity in leveraging the value of a more integrated transport system to help address some of our biggest sector challenges. Rail has a significant contribution to make in helping ease Auckland’s transport challenges both in terms of public transport and giving people transport choices helping move freight which might otherwise be moved on trucks through the city. There is an opportunity to find solutions to the city’s transport challenges by looking across the whole system and ensuring that the solutions are well integrated.”