Why has the Government nationalised the railways?
Fran O'Sullivan tackles the question again in today's NZ Herald
The problem is that this is really an election year move by the Labour-led Government to try and make ownership of state assets a campaign issue.
If the Government was truly serious about strengthening the role sustainable transport will play in a carbon-constrained future it would not have stymied plans for regional councils to apply local fuels taxes to fund projects like the $500 million proposal to electrify the Auckland suburban rail network.
As it is it has mopped up an out-of-date railway with taxpayers' cash - but effectively put a blocker in the way of proposals that would get more people out of cars.
Not a very bright outcome really.
