15 Jan 2024

Govt moves from light rail to other transport initiatives

From Morning Report, 7:09 am on 15 January 2024

Auckland's light rail project has been officially scrapped.

Transport Minister, Simeon Brown, yesterday announced the cancellation of the project as part of the Government's 100-day plan, saying the price was unsustainable, with costs ballooning to between $15-30 billion.

National Party MP Simeon Brown

Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Work on the project, which would have linked parts of the central city to the airport, has been paused since November.

Transport Minister, Simeon Brown, told Ben Strang the coalition government would prefer to put its money elsewhere, like the City Rail Link, the Eastern busway and the northwestern rapid transit corridor.