National will invest railways, while opposing Govt. Buying Toll NZ

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: The National Party says it would invest in the country's railway tracks despite its opposition to the Government's purchase of Toll New Zealand.

The Government intends to spend more than $400 million to upgrade the tracks over the next five years.

The National Party opposed the purchase when it was announced last week, however its policy is not to sell any state-owned assets in a first term in office.

Deputy leader Bill English says the party would be a good steward of the rail system if it forms a government after the election.

He says hundreds of millions of dollars in investment will be required, including in the track, over the next five years.

The Government says National cannot be trusted, given its opposition to buying back the country's rail and ferry assets.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen says the Government will spend much more on upgrading the tracks than it will on buying new trains and rolling stock.

The Government-owned OnTrack, which runs the tracks, has already spent about $200 million.

But over the next five years spending is set to increase to $449 million, to try to lift capacity on key routes.

These include the Auckland to Tauranga line, the coal route between the West Coast and the port of Lyttelton and lines carrying dairy product in Northland.