KiwiRail has today released the report on its investigation into the accident in which a young woman was critically injured when a train hit her wheel chair after it became stuck at the Morningside pedestrian level crossing.

KiwiRail is pleased to report an increase in both revenue and operating surplus over the last six months. This result is primarily due to the continued growth in the core freight business which achieved a revenue result of over $238 million, an improvement of almost eight percent from the previous half year. Overall business revenue increased by four percent to almost $363 million and the operating surplus result of almost $47 million was a 7.6 percent increase.

KiwiRail is urging Ngaruawahia residents to help keep their young people safe this summer and stop them jumping off the rail bridge over the Waikato river.

“The fatal collision near Woodville yesterday is a personal tragedy and a reminder to road users and pedestrians to take extra care at level crossings,”  says KiwiRail Chief Executive, Jim Quinn.

KiwiRail and the Chris Cairns Foundation are warning people to take care around railway lines this holiday period in light of recent statistics showing that people are continuing to take unnecessary risks around the railway.

The future of Hillside Workshops in Dunedin has been resolved after an extensive national and international search was undertaken for potential purchasers for the site. Unfortunately that process did not result in any purchaser for the entire Hillside business.

KiwiRail announced today the entry into a bulk fuel supply contract with Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited for the supply of diesel and associated services to KiwiRail.

KiwiRail has recorded a 25% growth in freight revenue in just two years, Chairman John Spencer said today at KiwiRail’s Annual Public Meeting.

KiwiRail’s progress towards becoming a sustainable business is well underway reporting revenue growth of 7.2% or almost $50 million. This includes strong revenue growth from the freight business of 15%, or approximately $60 million, and an increase in their EBITDA of 14%.

New locomotives and wagons are becoming the new workhorses on the network and has KiwiRail strongly placed to meet  customer requirements.

At KiwiRail’s Annual Public Meeting in November 2011, we outlined our intention to make a change to the Balance Sheet that would reflect a standard commercial valuation approach.

Wellington commuters were treated to muffins and cake as they passed through Wellington Railway Station this morning to mark the building’s 75^th birthday. The Minister of Transport, Gerry Brownlee, also paid the building a visit to join in the birthday celebrations.

Due to the severe weather warning issued by the Met Service we have made the decision to cancel scheduled Interislander sailings after the 6.25pm sailing from Wellington to Picton this evening.

KiwiRail’s core business of rail freight has experienced an 11 percent increase in revenue to over $220 million contributing to an overall business revenue increase of over five percent for the half year. The stand-out performer for freight was the Import Export (IMEX) division which recorded an increase in volume of 16 percent and a revenue increase of over 12 percent to over $61 million.

The Crusaders squad are travelling on KiwiRail’s TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth today, two days before their pre-season match with the Highlanders.