Rail line to Marsden Point, and possible port move, one step closer

Wednesday, 1 July 2020

KiwiRail has bought some of the land needed to build a rail line to Northport at Marsden Point.

The lack of rail connection to the expanding port has been a concern for Whangārei residents since Northport moved from central Whangārei to Marsden Point in 2007.

It was one of the reasons a recent report by the National Road Carriers Association heavily criticised a proposal to move Ports of Auckland's operations to Northport.

Northport at Marsden Point, Whangarei, is situated in a natural deep-water channel but it does not have rail access.

But Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said rail – including a link to Marsden Point – is essential for the port move to work.

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The Government has invested more than $200 million in the North Auckland Line, including $40m to buy land to allow the Marsden Point spur to be built.

KiwiRail has held the designation and consents for the construction, operation and maintenance of a rail link from Oakleigh to Marsden Point since 2012, said group general manager property Stephanie Campbell.

“We are purchasing the land required for the 20km spur line, to secure the rail corridor for future development.'

Some of the land was owned by Northland Regional Council, and KiwiRail has now bought that land for an undisclosed amount.

However, other parts of the land are owned by private landowners, and KiwiRail has engaged The Property Group to help with these acquisitions, Campbell said.

Building the Marsden Point rail link is expected to cost $800m, according to the Ministry of Transport.

But work to upgrade the North Auckland Line was costing much less than expected.

The tunnels are being upgraded to take containers at just 10 per cent of the cost originally thought, using clever engineering such as lowering the tunnel floors, KiwiRail Group chief executive Greg Miller said in January.