First train to Wiri Inland Port

- Construction of the new rail link between the Port of Auckland and the Wiri Inland Port has been completed, providing a rail intermodal option for cargo to Wiri. The first train was scheduled to arrive at Wiri today (3 February).

Considered to be a major step forward for the Auckland region, Jens Madsen, Ports of Auckland managing director said, “New Zealand needs top quality infrastructure and a flexible mix of sea, road and rail transport options. The new link is definitely a step in the right direction”.

Adding that the link brings the ‘port to the doorstep of businesses in South Auckland’, Madsen said that exporters and importers will be able to drop off and pick up containers without having to negotiate the Auckland motorways.

This in turn will reduce road congestion, with the rail link forecast to eventually save up to 2.5m truck km annually – the equivalent of 100,000 central city truck trips.

“A lot of our current customers are based within eight kilometres of the inland port. By using the rail link to the port, this group will be able to reduce the carbon emissions of transporting their containers by up to 25%,” he said.

Work on the link started in June 2009 and was jointly funded by KiwiRail and Ports of Auckland. Initially a weekly service of four services of 23 wagons will run in each direction.

Earlier this month (February), Ports of Auckland in conjunction with NZL Group, established CONLINXX a new subsidiary company to operate the Wiri Inland Port.

Source: Container Management