Establishing the Te Huia rail service is budgeted to cost $92 million (file photo).
A rail revival is underway with new passenger services and a turn around in staff morale putting the formerly struggling sector back on track. A positive culture change at KiwiRail is being partly credited for declining rates of train drivers being pinged for lax behaviour. KiwRail figures obtained under the Official Information Act show 14 locomotive engineers were disciplined or formally cautioned during the 12 months to June 30 – with only one case involving a Waikato driver. The figure represents an almost 50 per cent reduction from 2018-19 when 27 drivers were cautioned or disciplined for negligence or behaviour issues.