Response: OIA2021.91
17 January 2022
To Iain Palmer
Via email:
[FYI request #17732 email]
Dear Iain,
Information request for: What consideration has been made towards the release of
replaced rail hardware to heritage groups as a public good in relation to the works
underway to upgrade the Wellington Metro Lines along with the Wairarapa Line south
of Masterton, Upper Hutt double-tracking and Wairarapa Line renewals. How much of
this rail hardware has been disposed of or planned to be through scrap and of the
planned material to be scrapped how much of this could have been given to heritage
groups.
I refer to your official information request dated 27 November 2021; KiwiRail’s Official
Correspondence Unit received this OIA on the 28 November 2021.
We are responding to your enquiry regarding:
“In relation to the Wellington Metro Upgrade Programme. What consideration has
been made towards the release of replaced rail hardware to heritage groups as a
public good and how much of this rail hardware has been disposed of or planned to
be through scrap. Of the planned material to be scrapped how much of this could
have been given to heritage groups.”
The response to your query is as below.
All viable rail hardware is transferred through to a secondary team for the entirety of
Wellington. There are no records kept of the rail gone to scrap versus what would be
viable for re-sale for the Wellington Metro Upgrade Programme within the project.
KiwiRail does not seek out heritage groups to donate replaced rail hardware. Heritage
groups can approach the project to request second-hand materials. However, if there
are no formal requests submitted directly to the project team all viable rail hardware
will be transferred through to KiwiRail’s material co-ordinators team.
Those that request second-hand materials from KiwiRail may be eligible for donations
via the Public Goodwill Fund.
We trust this answers your query.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or by calling free-phone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Iraina
KiwiRail
Official Correspondence Unit
