Ports of Auckland has welcomed the Government‘s decision to fund the expansion of a key freight and passenger rail line through Auckland.

The Government has announced it will invest $100 million to build the ‘third main‘, adding a third rail line to the North Island Main Trunk Line between Westfield and Wiri, in Auckland, a section of line used heavily by both passenger and freight trains.

Although this line does not link directly to Ports of Auckland, it will add capacity and flexibility in a key section, which will improve rail access from the Waitemata sea port to inland ports at South Auckland, Waikato, Manawatu and the Bay of Plenty.

This new investment will facilitate greater use of rail – both for freight and passengers – helping to reduce congestion and make the supply chain more efficient and sustainable.

Over time, Ports of Auckland would like to see further investment in rail, particularly the addition of a fourth main line in the Westfield-Wiri section along with capacity and access enhancements on the Eastern Line to the Waitemata sea port.