On the Tory Channel, you haven’t mentioned the sharp turn adjacent to the entrance which is a lot trickier for bigger ships. I suspect this is the reason that the Marlborough Harbourmaster has, I think, said that the bigger ships would be required to use the northern entrance to the Sounds. The route via the northern entrance adds about an hour to the journey and fuel bill in each direction which dramatically affects the number of journeys per day and the financial return.
One important point not covered is why port infrastructure, or at least the mooring facilities, is the responsibility of Kiwirail and not the relevant harbour authorities. For example to my knowledge there has never been an expectation that Air New Zealand should be expected to pay, other than user charges, for aeronautical infrastructure within NZ.
At last, a balanced knowledgeable explanation of the issue.
Perhaps a bit unfair to blame KiwiRail. As the monopoly supplier of both rail and rail ferry services, and with “someone else” meeting all the capital costs, they made decisions that best suited their company alone.
It should have been a national strategic decision, taking into account all interests. But the Govt abrogated this responsibility, allowing KiwiRail to act in its own interests which in fact it is legally obliged to do.
Some commentators have blamed the road transport lobby, but conveniently forget that the rail lobby is the same company as the company making the decisions on the new ferries.
The Labour govt failed to structure the project correctly from the start. Now the Coalition govt has to fix the mess.
The more I read the term "iReX" the more I start imagining a giant tyrannosaur straddling Cook Strait, one clawed foot in Wellington and the other in Picton.
On the Tory Channel, you haven’t mentioned the sharp turn adjacent to the entrance which is a lot trickier for bigger ships. I suspect this is the reason that the Marlborough Harbourmaster has, I think, said that the bigger ships would be required to use the northern entrance to the Sounds. The route via the northern entrance adds about an hour to the journey and fuel bill in each direction which dramatically affects the number of journeys per day and the financial return.
One important point not covered is why port infrastructure, or at least the mooring facilities, is the responsibility of Kiwirail and not the relevant harbour authorities. For example to my knowledge there has never been an expectation that Air New Zealand should be expected to pay, other than user charges, for aeronautical infrastructure within NZ.
At last, a balanced knowledgeable explanation of the issue.
Perhaps a bit unfair to blame KiwiRail. As the monopoly supplier of both rail and rail ferry services, and with “someone else” meeting all the capital costs, they made decisions that best suited their company alone.
It should have been a national strategic decision, taking into account all interests. But the Govt abrogated this responsibility, allowing KiwiRail to act in its own interests which in fact it is legally obliged to do.
Some commentators have blamed the road transport lobby, but conveniently forget that the rail lobby is the same company as the company making the decisions on the new ferries.
The Labour govt failed to structure the project correctly from the start. Now the Coalition govt has to fix the mess.
The more I read the term "iReX" the more I start imagining a giant tyrannosaur straddling Cook Strait, one clawed foot in Wellington and the other in Picton.