FLASH FLEET: Greater Wellington regional council plans to spend $140 million on 35 Korean-made Matangi trains.
Wellington's entire commuter train fleet, except Wairarapa trains, looks set to be replaced by Korean-made Matangi trains costing $140 million.Greater Wellington regional council chairwoman Fran Wilde said the proposal to buy 35 new Korean-made Matangi trains was expected to be signed off by council on September 26.
Then detailed negotiations could begin to get the new trains at a total cost of about $140 million.
They would add to the 48 Matangi trains already bought, the final three of which were due in Wellington next weekend.
The move to buy new trains, instead of refurbishing the 44 existing Ganz Mavag trains, meant Lower Hutt's Woburn railway workshops would miss out on work.
''They have got a full book. They will be maintaining the Matangi [trains],'' Ms Wilde said.
Buying new trains would have about the same impact on rates and fares as refurbishing the Ganz Mavag fleet because the debt would be spread over a longer period.
The council originally planned to refurbish the Ganz Mavag fleet but after it got a ''competitive'' offer from Hyundai Rotem, which makes the Matangi trains, new trains made more financial sense. A refurbished fleet - essentially ''lipstick on a pig'' - would still need to be replaced in about 15 years, whereas the new trains had a life expectancy of about 35 years.
''The key issue is that if we refurbish the Ganz trains we still would have to purchase replacements for them at the end of their life in 15 years at whatever the price is in 2027.''
The New Zealand Transport Agency would pick up half the tab of the new trains.
While it was not expected the new trains would increase fares, the council aimed to increase revenue from all public transport fares by three per cent each year.
Each train is made up of two cars. The first order of Matangi trains was for 48 trains, or 96 cars. The new order is for 35 trains, or 70 cars. When all the new Matangi trains are operating in mid-2016, Wellington would have 83 trains, or 166 cars.
Of the 44 Ganz Mavag trains, some were already pulled from service, meaning there would be a similar number of trains in 2016. The Matangi trains hold more people.
The Wairarapa line is not electrified so cannot handle the Matangi trains.
The council expects to keep about 20 Ganz Mavag units to fill gaps if there was an unforeseen demand for trains. It was not decided what would happen to the rest.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/7535782/140m-Matangi-trains-for-Wellington