IReX project winds down in Waitohi Picton

At the end of last year, the

Government announced that the increase in construction costs for iReX (Interislander’s ferry terminal redevelopment and new ships project) were too great to continue the project. The iReX team is now focused on winding down the project. For Waitohi Picton this means making sure all sites are left safe and tidy and completing the strengthening work on the Waitohi Awa culvert.

KiwiRail is working in partnership with Marlborough District Council and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) about what next for the transport network around the Port.

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor says Council is working closely with all parties involved to get more certainty for the

Picton community about the Dublin

Street overbridge and the Kent/Wairau Street upgrades.

“We understand there is intense interest in the ‘where to from here’ and we are working with KiwiRail and NZTA to answer the community’s questions.”

Interislander Programme Director David Warburton says last year’s decision marks the end of the iReX project, but not KiwiRail’s work with Government, partners, community and staff on finding an alternative solution for Interislander.

“Everyone accepts that investment is needed to deliver a reliable, safe and sustainable Cook Strait Service.

“Waitohi Picton is a special town with good people who’ve been extremely supportive of the Interislander and the iReX project. We’ll continue to keep in touch with everyone as new plans emerge,” David Warbuton says. “For Interislander it is business as usual. We were always planning to run the current fleet until 2026.

“Safety and reliability continues to be a huge focus for the team and we’re proud to say that during December, one of our busiest months, Interislander delivered

100 per cent reliability with 94 per cent on time performance. For January we continued to provide a reliable service, closing the month at 99 per cent reliability and 92 per cent on-time performance.