Rail pigeon-hole prediction

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 11

Rail pigeon-hole prediction

PA Wellington The Government will probably pigeon-hole most of the urban rail transport review’s suggestions because of “political considerations,” the Opposition’s associate transport spokesman, Mr Roger Maxwell, said yesterday. The report recommends a substantial reduction in Government subsidy with resulting dramatic rises in fares, he said. The Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, commenting after the release of the report of the Urban Rail Review Committee on Monday said he was sceptical that the recommendation to close the Johnsonville line in Wellington would be im-

plemented. But Mr Maxwell said the implementation of the recommendations would affect the Government’s chances of keeping several urban electorates, particularly Ohariu. “The Labour Government has been quite happy to withdraw Government support for agriculture because it does not see itself losing many votes in those areas, but when it comes to dramatically escalating fares on urban transport routes, my bet is that it will be a totally different story,” Mr Maxwell said. There was little fear the recommendations for major change would be carried out, he said.