KiwiRail Resilience Programme Business Case

Introduction to the KiwiRail Resilience Programme Business Case

The KiwiRail Resilience Programme Business Case (PBC) outlines a strategic initiative to address critical vulnerabilities in New Zealand’s rail network, ensuring its ability to withstand and recover from natural hazards and climate change impacts. This PBC reflects the proactive approach to safeguarding the network's reliability and its contribution to New Zealand's economic and social well-being. This PBC was funded and delivered in the 2021-24 Rail Network Investment Programme (RNIP).

Purpose and Scope

The PBC identifies the key resilience challenges facing the rail network, including exposure to natural hazards, aging infrastructure, and accessibility issues during response efforts. It provides a comprehensive 10-year programme of interventions designed to enhance the robustness, redundancy, and responsiveness of KiwiRail’s 3,700-kilometre network.

Preferred Programme

The preferred programme identified in the PBC prioritises interventions that address the most significant risks while balancing affordability and feasibility. Spanning a 30-year horizon, it combines short-term (1-10 years) and long-term (10-30 years) initiatives that include:

  • Targeting high-risk areas with urgent interventions to mitigate exposure to natural hazards.
  • Protecting and improving resilience on critical lines with high economic and operational importance.
  • Enhancing access to remote or high-risk areas to improve response times during disruptions.

The programme represents a strategic and integrated approach, focusing on protecting medium and high-criticality lines while delivering strong value for money.

Funding and Transparency

The preferred programme is not currently funded. These projects are considered during the development of future RNIPs including the 2024-27 RNIP which is under consideration. However, only a modest number of renewals (which also offer resilience benefits) can be delivered under current funding constraints. Additional funding above the RNIP would be necessary to implement this programme.

Alignment with National Adaptation Plan

This work aligns with New Zealand’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which emphasises the importance of resilient infrastructure as a foundation for climate adaptation. While the NAP provides high-level goals and principles, the PBC operationalises these by identifying specific actions and investments that will reduce vulnerability, improve adaptive capacity, and ensure long-term sustainability.

The Resilience Programme contributes to key objectives of the NAP, including:

  • Reducing Asset Vulnerability – The PBC enhances understanding of KiwiRail’s exposure to climate-related risks, enabling targeted investments to mitigate impacts.
  • Integrating Climate Considerations in Renewals – Renewal projects, guided by insights from the PBC, incorporate future climate scenarios to ensure long-term suitability.
  • Supporting Proactive Decision-Making – By leveraging scientific data, local knowledge, and collaborative input, the PBC demonstrates alignment with the NAP’s principle of informed and anticipatory action.

Next Steps

The PBC provides a roadmap for enhancing the resilience of the rail network, with both short- and long-term interventions to address the most significant risks. It also informs future Rail Network Investment Programmes (RNIPs) projects, ensuring alignment with broader transport goals and funding frameworks.

KiwiRail remains committed to transparent communication and collaborative action as we work to deliver an efficient and reliable rail network that supports New Zealand’s growth and climate resilience goals.