The Northland Rail Program seeks to improve freight connectivity between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand. The project includes:
- the construction of a new connection to Marsden Point, and
- upgrades to rail lines between Kauri and Otiria.
The proposed Marsden Point Rail Link involves approximately 19 kilometres of rail track between North Auckland Line in Oakleigh, south of Whangarei, and Marsden Point in Northport. The rail corridor width is expected to future proof for double tracking, with five road crossings on this route to be grade separated.
The Kauri to Otiria re-opening project will include upgrades to the line to carry 18 tonne axle loads, and the construction of a road / rail transfer site at Otiria.
Also part of the Northland Rail Program, the Swanson to Whangārei line upgrade was completed in 2021. The project lowered track through 13 tunnels to allow shipping containers to pass through, and replaced five bridges.
Key Dates
| Jan 2020 | Project Announcement |
| 2022 | Construction Commencement - Kauri to Otiria |
| 2025 | Expected completion of revised Business Case and Detailed Design |
Funding contributions
| NZ Government | |
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The Northland Rail project is being funded through the New Zealand Upgrade Program (NZUP). Since 2019, NZ$173 million was invested by the Government to upgrade the operating rail line between Swanson and Whangārei to take larger, heavier freight trains, and NZ$90 million was allocated to upgrade the line between Whangarei and Otiria and build a container terminal at the existing Otiria rail yard. |
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Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | KiwiRail |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Jan 2020 | The NZ Government announced its intention to invest in Northland including a rail line that enables hi-cube container freight to be transported in the region, as well as lowering the tracks in the 13 tunnels between Swanson and Whangarei; reopening the currently mothballed rail line north of Whangarei, between Kauri and Otiria, and building a container terminal at the Otiria rail yard, in Moerewa. |
| Jan 2021 | The NZ Government announced the re-opening of the rail line between Whangārei and Swanson. |
| Jun 2021 | A re-evaluation of the New Zealand Upgrade Program proposed a rail link between Northpoint and the North Auckland Rail Line. |
| 2022 | The upgrade to Kauri to Otiria commenced construction, due for completion in 2024. |
| Jun 2024 | KiwiRail announced that the project to reopen the rail line north of Whangārei will remain on hold while design work on the new rail link to Marsden Point is carried out, in order to align the two projects. KiwiRail also announced the project's proposed cost had increased to approximately NZ$1 billion. |
| Aug 2024 | KiwiRail announced that the North Auckland Line has been reopened. |
