Good afternoon Oliver

We acknowledge receipt of the below Official Information Act 1982 request.

Under the Act, KiwiRail has up to 20 working days from the date of receiving your request to respond.  Therefore, you can expect a response on or before Monday 10 April 2017.

This calculation takes into account KiwiRail receiving your request outside normal business hours.

We will be in touch with you if it is necessary to clarify any aspect of your request.

Regards
Official Correspondence Unit
KiwiRail

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Dear Mr Sanderson

Thank you for your email of 13 March 2017 to KiwiRail, in which you ask:

• Why is Taihape no longer a stop/pickup option on the northern explorer route?
• If this is due to the cost of diesel in stopping and starting a train, how much does it cost in fuel to stop and start a train to drop off/pick up passengers?

Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).

Taihape was removed as a regular stop on the Northern Explorer route in order to shorten the length of the overall journey and improve the timeliness of the service. This decision had nothing to do with the cost of diesel, but was based on the time taken to stop at the station and then get the train up to full speed again.

Taihape is still a ‘stop/pickup’ option. The train will stop at Taihape, and other ‘non-advertised’ stops, if there is a group of 10 passengers on any service wishing to stop there. Groups can book their stop through our call centre.

Thank you again for your request.

Under s28(3) of the Act, you have the right to seek an investigation and review of this response by way of complaint to the Ombudsman. Please refer to www.ombudsman.parliament.nz for more information.

Regards
Official Correspondence Unit
KiwiRail

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