Simeon Brown: Transport Minister on delivering the City Rail Link on time and what it will cut delays down to

Transport Minister Simeon Brown is confident in delivering Auckland's City Rail Link on time with no network issues. 

KiwiRail has assured the $5.5 billion project will cut delays down to a maximum of 1 minute 20 seconds when it opens in 2026. 

Official papers show Brown and Auckland mayor Wayne Brown are working to improve confidence in the wide rail network. 

Simeon Brown told Heather du Plessis-Allan he's also aware of the rail fatigue among Aucklanders. 

He says he gets the frustration about more maintenance and renewals and is determined to ensure they get as much done as possible. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So unbelievably, trains on Auckland City rail Link will not
go as fast as we previously expected when the thing
finally opens in a couple of years time. This is
because of temporary speed restrictions again put in place by
again ke We Rail. The Transport Minister Simeon Brown, is
across the isessue morning to your Simeon.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
How are you?

Speaker 1 (00:19):
I'm very well, thank you? How is this happening?

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Well? Ultimately, there's a lot of work that needs to
be done to get these tracks up to spec. The
government's put significant funding into the complete the rail network rebuild.
Our focus now is making sure that care Rail delivers
on what it's saying that those delays will be at
a minimum, So forty five seconds delay of approaching the

(00:42):
CBD from the Western line, thirty seconds approaching from the
Southern line, and one minute twenty approaching on the Eastern line.
That's a lot lower than what it currently is, which
is around five and a half minute of the network.
So do you expect well, I think the reality is
there's a lot of work that needs to be done.
This is and we need to make sure that ki

(01:04):
Rail's really focused on it was I expecting it. No,
But what my job is now as the Minister of
Transport is to work really closely with all the parties
involved to make sure that the resources are there, which
we've done in the budget, and then to make sure
that it's delivered effectively and efficiently so that we get
the best possible outcome when the City rail Link opens.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
Sitting and how did we've been working on the City
rail Link since twenty thirteen. How did ki we Rail
not have it ready these tracks ready to go by
twenty twenty six when the thing opens.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, I think the issue is that the rail network
needs significant renewals. It's not just that the City Rail
Link has been a multi billion dollar project in terms
of building a new part of the rail network. This
is about making sure that the tracks on the entire
rest of the network can actually cope with the increased

(01:52):
number of trains, which Aucklanders are expecting. Erailing this fund.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
However, they know that and they know that they've had
to do the work. So how have they missed the deadline?

Speaker 2 (02:03):
Well, they they haven't missed the deadline yet. We're focused
on making sure that they do this work before twenty
twenty six. But I acknowledge Aucklands have got rail fatigue.
That's the issue here is we've we're constantly being told
more maintenance, more renewals. I get the frustration that Auckland
does have. I've inherited this problem and my job is

(02:23):
now to make sure that we get as much done
as possible to deliver the network benefits of the serrail
Link promises by twenty twenty six. And that's what I'm
really focused on doing and working very closely with the
mayor and all other parties to make sure that that
is what we deliver.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
So, I mean, what's going on with the Wellington Mega Tunnel.
I see, you guys have spent about one point six
billion dollars in consultants. They've missed their deadline. I mean,
is it worth actually going ahead with us because it's
unlikely you're going to actually build this thing.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
Well, Ultimately, what we're focused on is making sure this
project is around delivering benefits to cars and making sure
we have travel time benefits, not just making it easier
to get on a bike around Wellington, which is what
the last government was focused on. So we reshifted the
priorities to make sure that that's what the project delivers. Yes,
we've spent there's been a bit of other money spent.

(03:12):
It's a lot less than the tens of millions spent
by the last government on their business case to make
make cycling more attractive around Wellington.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
You realize you're making the same mistake as them, right
they made they made. This is exactly the kind of
thing that they did. They'd come up with these pie
and the sky ideas that were never going to happen,
and they blow heaps of money and consultants. We just
basically fund consultants. This tunnel is never going to be built.
It's going to be way too expensive. If you can't
build an Needin's Hospital to full specs, you're not going
to build this. So why spend the money on the consultants?

Speaker 2 (03:41):
Well, I guess as I said that the project that
was underway needed to have its priorities put in the
right order. There's now three options which will go to
the NZTA board. They'll make a determination and then a
decision we made and we're going to follow that through.

Speaker 1 (03:55):
Have you seen mood of the boardroom?

Speaker 2 (03:57):
I have?

Speaker 1 (03:58):
How are you feeling in number two? Number two?

Speaker 2 (04:00):
Oh? Look, I think there's I mean, there's a lot
of a lot of work on my plate, but ultimately
it's a privilege to serve New Zealanders and we're just
really focused on you know, the entire cabinet really focused
on getting getting things done for New Zealand across across
our country. That's what we've got to do.

Speaker 1 (04:12):
Did you know that you were being called golden balls?

Speaker 2 (04:15):
Oh? No?

Speaker 1 (04:17):
When did I break it to you?

Speaker 2 (04:20):
I think I think you did hither. But look at
the end of the day, Look there's a lot of
challenges across all my portfolios, and Sime and do sound.

Speaker 1 (04:27):
Like it's a bad thing. You know who was originally
called golden balls? Was David Beckham?

Speaker 2 (04:32):
Well, I wasn't aware of that. But all I say
is a real focus across my portfolios. That's what I'm
focusing on.

Speaker 1 (04:37):
You're the David Beckham of the cabinet. That's cool.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
Thank you, Heather, thank.

Speaker 1 (04:44):
You Sybb and jeez, honestly, I really how can you
make this so serious of Simmy and Brown the Transport Minister.
I don't I'm not going to repeat it again. I've
said it enough times.

Speaker 2 (04:53):
A For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live
to News talks. There'd be from six a m.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
Weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio