
A flyover released by KiwiRail shows container handling with reachstackers
The announcement is the first significant investment by state owned KiwiRail in a new terminal in many years. For over a decade since the rail network was renationlised the NZ government has struggled to address the huge cost of deferred maintenance and to keep the track operational. Earlier this year it announced a new plan to grow the rail system, supported with a NZ$1 billion investment in redeveloping the network and supporting infrastructure.
The new intermodal hub will be located near Palmerston North in the Lower North Island. It represents “a bold vision for New Zealand’s logistics sector”, said KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller. The terminal will be three kilometres long and combine a container terminal, warehousing for road transport operators, and bulk goods and forestry loading operations with KiwiRail’s train operations and maintenance facilities.