KiwiRail has completed the first stage of investigation into what it would take to build a railway line to Northport.
. Photo: Katy Gosset/RNZ
At a ceremony near Oakleigh south of Whangārei this afternoon, engineers finished a three-month drilling programme to explore the terrain under the proposed spur line. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and New Zealand First leader Winston Peter were present at the ceremony.
Eight geotechnical tests have been carried out in the coastal area between Oakleigh and Mata Hill since mid-January, and another seven were completed in early November 2018.
The port at Marsden Point was built without a link to the railway line to Auckland, restricting its potential as a container port.
Labour made an election promise to look into building one, and upgrading the line to Auckland to take containers.
KiwiRail acting chief executive Todd Moyle said over coming months the company will do more work along the proposed route for the new line.
"Concurrently we are looking at how we can upgrade the North Auckland Line between Auckland and Oakleigh. The tunnels on that line are old, low and narrow.
"We have had two significant derailments on the line in recent months due to a lack of funding for maintenance. It has been unable to carry passengers for the past year and freight options are restricted.
"This is the result of low freight volumes on the line and KiwiRail needing to spend its limited capital where the most freight flows," Mr Moyle said.
Mr Jones said a rail link to Northport at Marsden Point was crucial for the region - and the party.
While leading local government figures in the north say a four-lane highway to Auckland is a priority for the region, Mr Jones said the rail link was essential for the port.
He said it was a critical outcome for NZ First as part of the government, that it made progress on the link between the main trunk line and the Marsden wharf.
Northland Regional Council bought land some years ago along the designated route for the new line, and Mr Jones said it could reasonably expect to be reimbursed by KiwiRail.
He said the land was worth between $12 million and $15m.