The Rail Minister believes having good railway services across the country is a no brainer

The Government will tip more than 600-million-dollars of Government funding in Budget 2025, to fully fund the Rail Network Investment Programme until 2027.

The freight network will get 461-million dollars, and 143-million will be spent on Auckland and Wellington's metropolitan trains.

Winston Peters says the railways have been rundown by the previous government.

He says he wants railways to be a serious utility, and make a serious return to the taxpayer.