Answers sought from KiwiRail on asbestos finding

The Government wants a full report from management, write Stacey Kirk and Tessa Johnstone. Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee is calling KiwiRail bosses to provide answers after 40 locomotives were taken off line due to asbestos contamination.

KiwiRail said asbestos was found in a paint sample on one of the trains, prompting urgent testing.

The trains were taken off the line on Friday, disrupting freight throughout the North Island over the weekend.

It is not known when the locomotives will be back in action. KiwiRail spokeswoman Jenni Austin said testing had been completed on DL locomotives in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga on Saturday and now the focus was on trains in Palmerston North and Wellington.

But she said the results of the tests would be known late today or tomorrow.

Mr Brownlee said by then he would be expecting a full report and a meeting with KiwiRail chair John Spencer and chief executive Peter Reidy. ‘‘KiwiRail themselves are working on the problem,’’ he said.

‘‘We, of course, will expect a full report from KiwiRail in the next couple of days, the board has to sign off on the report. ‘‘I’d expect we’d meet with the chairman and the new chief executive toward the middle of the week with a pretty comprehensive brief and follow on, over where to from here.

‘‘If there are decisions the Government has to make, then clearly that would become apparent at that point.’’ Mr Brownlee said the Chinese company that built the trains had accepted full responsibility, but just how the problem was to be fixed had yet to be decided.

‘‘It would seem the parts that were affected were built by a subcontractor to the main company. But the contract is very, very clear – that there is to be no asbestos used in the manufacturing of these, and the company that manufactures them has accepted responsibility.’’ Meanwhile, Opposition MPs were calling for an independent I think they’re going for short-term least cost, and that’s showing in terms of poor quality standards and things in the long term which are going to come back and bite them. review into KiwiRail’s tendering processes after asbestos forced the state rail operator to pull 40 locomotives off the main lines. Labour leader David Cunliffe has questioned how the trains came into circulation with asbestos present. The DL locomotives were manufactured in China, the first 20 imported about four years ago and the other 20 last year.

KiwiRail said they had stated in the contract that asbestos and other toxic materials not be used.

Mr Cunliffe said an investigation needed to be held to find out how much asbestos was present, and also how KiwiRail carried out its tender and procurement processes.

‘‘I think they’re going for short-term least cost, and that’s showing in terms of poor quality standards and things in the long term which are going to come back and bite them,’’ he said.

‘‘What’s concerning here is that locomotives imported into Australia from the same Chinese manufacturers tested positive for an asbestos test last year. It is concerning that while we have no tolerance for asbestos, KiwiRail seems to have walked into the same problem.’’

NZFirst transport spokesman Denis O’Rourke said the Government had shown ‘‘appalling shortsightedness’’ in awarding a contract to an overseas firm.