由于 iReX 项目缺乏政府资金，KiwiRail 开始谈判取消库克海峡渡轮的 HMD 合同。 KiwiRail initiates talks to cancel HMD contract for Cook Strait ferries due to lack of government funding for iReX project.
KiwiRail 已开始讨论取消与韩国造船厂现代尾浦造船厂 (HMD) 的合同，该合同将为库克海峡建造两艘新的大型渡轮。 KiwiRail has begun discussions to cancel a contract with a South Korean shipyard, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), to build two new mega ferries for Cook Strait. 该决定是在新西兰政府拒绝为 2023 年底的岛间弹性连接 (iReX) 项目提供进一步资金之后作出的。 The decision comes after the New Zealand Government declined to provide further funding for the Inter-Island Resilient Connection (iReX) project in late 2023. KiwiRail 现在计划与客户和国际船舶经纪人合作寻找合适的替代渡轮。 KiwiRail now plans to work with customers and international shipbrokers to source suitable replacement ferries.