Work category 515: Passenger rail services

Introduction

This work category provides for contracted  services undertaken by rail that are directly part of the service-level provision agreed between the NZ Transport Agency and Approved Organisations consistent with the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) prepared in accordance with Part 5 of the Land Transport Management Act.

This definition applies to the 2012-15 NLTP.  For the 2015-18 NLTP please refer to the updated definition for work category 515.

Examples of qualifying activities

Examples of qualifying activities include, but may not be limited to:

• planning and management of contracts and monitoring of services
• rail services contract payments
• track access charges, which include the cost of maintaining and renewing track and signalling assets
• passenger rail rolling stock heavy maintenance
• loan (principal and interest) repayments where agreed by the NZ Transport Agency
• operational planning and changes to existing services including:
  • frequency or service capacity variation(s) (within the limits set within the NZ Transport Agency procurement manual)
  • vehicle comfort or accessibility or security systems (related specifically to on-vehicle operations only)
  • provision for people with disabilities or on-vehicle cycle and pram facilities
  • on-vehicle installation and operational costs associated with public transport technology, and
• new services provided these are included in the adopted RPTP or are trial services agreed to by the NZ Transport Agency
• the management costs and overheads associated with the activities funed under this work category.

Other potential activities that are not in the above list should be discussed with the NZ Transport Agency for eligibility.

Exclusions

This work category excludes:

• off-vehicle operational activities covered by work category 514: Public transport facilities operation and maintenance.
• costs associated with the development or operations of public transport technology, external to the vehicle itself
• SuperGold card off-peak travel concession scheme fare reimbursements
• preparation of an RPTP, which is funded through Work Category 003: Activity Management Planning.

Funding assistance rate

The usual funding assistance rate is:

• 60% of the Approved Organisation’s expenditure for providing the services for 2009-12, reducing to 50% over ten years (i.e. 59% for 2012/13, 58% for 2013/14 and 57% for 2014/15, etc) – reducing by 1% per annum until the base level of 50% is reached
• approved commitments in the 2009-12 NLTP that extend beyond 30 June 2012 continue at the previously approved rate of 60%.