6260 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail

Written Question

Published date: 13 Mar 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	6260 (2026)
Question asked:	26 Feb 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister for Rail
Minister replying:	Rt Hon Winston Peters
Answer received:	08 Mar 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_06260_2026
Document guid:	6e1246b0-25f5-4f69-b860-813f4f562069

6260 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail: By how much will average train speeds on the main trunk and regional freight lines decrease with KiwiSaver's budget cuts of $200 million, if at all, and what productivity loss (in tonne-kilometres) does this represent?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: Temporary speed restrictions are used internationally as a way to keep trains running safely, when track faults are discovered. They are constantly being applied to small parts of the network and lifted once the issue has been repaired. Some may only be in place for a matter of hours.