Option to buy 20 additional commuter trains exercised

Greater Wellington Regional Council today announced that it will be buying an additional 20 new electric commuter train units in addition to the 70 that it has already ordered.

In November 2007, Greater Wellington Rail Ltd (a trading subsidiary company of the Council) entered into a contract with Rotem Mitsui, a Korean/Japanese consortium, to purchase 70 new trains (35 two-car units) with an option to buy a further 20 (10 two-car units) by 1 May 2008.

Council Chair Fran Wilde said that the cost of the additional new trains was within the $210 million original budget and the Council decided to exercise the option.

The first of the new trains, which are being manufactured in Korea, are expected to arrive in New Zealand in 2010.