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Thread ID: 89579 2008-05-05 01:30:00 Govt buys back Rail Operations, what a waste of our money robbyp (2751) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
666049 2008-05-05 01:30:00 www.stuff.co.nz

This money surely could have been used for something better. It would have gone a long way to build a fibre optic network, which I think would have more economic benefits to nz. Now it is going to need hundreds of millions pumping into updating the rail, due to all the years it has been left with hardly any investment put into it.
Were the public even wanting to buy back the rail, or is this the move of a government who has lost touch with reality. As many manufacturers have now left NZ, the govt have kind of missed the boat, if they are wanting to use rail for transporting export goods. They also could have got it for about a 1/3 of what they paid for it, if they had purchased it a few years ago.
robbyp (2751)
666050 2008-05-05 01:39:00 They should have paid $1 for it. It's about what trans-rail have devalued the lines to.

I agree with the decision to buy them back, but not the price. An upgraded, first world rail system would open NZ up quite a bit. Sweep might not like it though, as it would send truck drivers broke. But it is the best, cheapest, and most efficient way to move goods inland.
Thebananamonkey (7741)
666051 2008-05-05 01:44:00 Whose idea it was to sell it in the first place? Hehe lightfoot (39)
666052 2008-05-05 01:50:00 They should have paid $1 for it. It's about what trans-rail have devalued the lines to.

I agree with the decision to buy them back, but not the price. An upgraded, first world rail system would open NZ up quite a bit. Sweep might not like it though, as it would send truck drivers broke. But it is the best, cheapest, and most efficient way to move goods inland.

The problem is the rail is impracticle for many businesses, and the rails are only in certain areas. Getting stuff on and off the trains, in the location you want them to do this , is the major problem, as well as handling goods multiple times, whle they are taken off trucks, onto trains, and then back off trucks. I don't disagree the using trains isn't a good idea, but it is going to need many hundreds of millions to build it into something that is usable.
robbyp (2751)
666053 2008-05-05 01:52:00 Whose idea it was to sell it in the first place? Hehe
Ad they may even sell it again, although they did say that they wouldn't sell any assets in their 1st term.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are trying to bring telecoms value down too, so they can also buy that back for a few billion.
robbyp (2751)
666054 2008-05-05 01:54:00 Whose idea it was to sell it in the first place? Hehe

You can blame rogernomics for that one. You can blame it for almost everything wrong with this country actually.
Thebananamonkey (7741)
666055 2008-05-05 01:56:00 Ad they may even sell it again, although they did say that they wouldn't sell any assets in their 1st term.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are trying to bring telecoms value down too, so they can also buy that back for a few billion.

It would be awesome if they did buy them back. Govt owned cellphone network competing with vodafone would be weird though. How do you compete against the govt?
Thebananamonkey (7741)
666056 2008-05-05 01:59:00 Gone are the days when the power vested in so much one man. They will face a few hurdles if they try to sell something. NZers are wiser now, hopefully. lightfoot (39)
666057 2008-05-05 02:13:00 Did anyone speak up about the fire-sell, on the news ...etc? Most people know it is a bad idea now to have a fire-sell like that, but who spoke against it then? The silent major is as much to blame? lightfoot (39)
666058 2008-05-05 03:02:00 They should have paid $1 for it. It's about what trans-rail have devalued the lines to.

I agree with the decision to buy them back, but not the price. An upgraded, first world rail system would open NZ up quite a bit. Sweep might not like it though, as it would send truck drivers broke. But it is the best, cheapest, and most efficient way to move goods inland.

As it happens Sweep does not mind. In your opinion why would it send truck drivers broke?

Some time back the Government of the day insisted that all goods went by rail if over 50 miles or 80 Km in case you have no idea what a mile is.

Next time you need silage delivered to your farm I would think all you have to do is source the silage then delivered by rail to your silage stack. I hope you have rail lines right up to your front gate. Then of course all you have to do is shovel the silage out of a rail wagon. Have you ever noticed rail stock outside your local supermarket?

Not that I disagree with you entirely but I think you need to get real.
Sweep (90)
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