Kia ora KiwiRail,

This email contains two requests under the Official Information Act.

1) Please provide me with a list of the titles, dates, and filing system reference numbers of documents held that model the provision of passenger rail transport between:
a. Porirua (or stations further north and south) and Petone
b. Porirua (or stations further north and south) and Lower Hutt

2) If KiwiRail decides that good reason exists under sections 6 or 9 of the OIA to withhold any information from me in response to requests (1) and (2) above, I separately request under section 19(a)(ii) of LGOIMA to be given the grounds in support of each instance of information being withheld. If KiwiRail is unsure how to comply with section 19(a)(ii) requests, please refer to the Ombudsman’s case note here: https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/reso... .

Under section 16(2), my preferred means of receiving this information is in a text-searchable format, either a Word document or spreadsheet using columns for document title, date, and filing system reference.

I look forward to receiving the Agency’s response as soon as reasonably practicable.

Ngā mihi,

Andrew Ecclestone

Dear Mr Allard,

Please don't insult me by suggesting that I used 'AI' to make my request. It sounds an awful lot like you're projecting your own use of 'AI' as a crutch for your work processes on to me.

I asked KiwiRail for this information not because there is currently track that directly connects the Kapiti Line and Hutt Line, but because I'm interested in whether KiwiRail has ever explored the possibility of connecting these lines by building more track, or by running passenger trains that use existing track to make this journey.

(a) This could have been in the form of adding a junction (a set of points) where the southbound Kapiti Line exits the tunnel at the southern end of the Ngauranga Gorge, with a spur of track running from that new junction over a viaduct to join with the Wellington-Hutt Valley Line.

(b) Alternatively, KiwiRail may have explored provision of a passenger rail service that connects the Kapiti Line and the Hutt Line by running trains from the Kapiti Line that stop at the (now defunct) Kaiwharawhara Station and then reverse direction to go to up to Petone or Lower Hutt (and vice versa).

I trust that the purpose of my request is now clear, but if it is not, let me know.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Ecclestone