According to New Zealand First, the Ports of Auckland and Tauranga will reach capacity between 2022 and 2040, and it wants to build a rail link from Auckland to Northport to carry freight.
NZ First says for $220 million, or 9% of the $1.2 billion Government contribution to the Auckland Supercity rail upgrade, 270km of Northland rail could be updated to accommodate high cube containerised rail freight.
NZ First leader Winston Peters says such infrastructure is critical for the economic development of regional New Zealand and places like Northland where rail is being shut down by stealth.
“Rail is going to become increasingly important for the upper North Island. Somewhere between 2022 and 2040, both the Ports of Auckland and Tauranga will reach capacity,” says Peters.
According to Peters, Northport is vital from a regional economic perspective as it is the only natural deepwater port north of Tauranga, which has the capacity for larger shipping and a bank of flat land for port expansion.
“The government has committed $1.25 billion towards the Auckland supercity’s $2.5 billion railway upgrade,” says Peters.
“This money will cover 3.4 kilometres at $735 a metre, and provide for two additional stations near Aotea Centre and Karangahape Road, along with a redeveloped Mt Eden station,” he says.
“Yet for just 9% of that cost, or $220 million, 270 kilometres of track in Northland could be updated lifting both speed and height restrictions for the carriage of hi-cube containers,” says Peters.
“That amount will also pay for the Northport rail connection as well,” he says.
“New Zealand First backs balanced transportation with rail, road and sea playing a role,” says Peters.
