What comes first, the $21 billion rail network expansion, or moving Auckland’s port?
It’s one of the big unknowns in the 30-year vision of KiwiRail, supported by Auckland Transport which it’s promoting to interest groups.
Rather than settling for pressing on with ad-hoc upgrades and fixes, the state-owned rail company is trying to build interest in an ideal network of the future.
Parts locked in already include connecting the downtown City Rail Link, twin 3.5km tunnels to Auckland’s suburban rail network and additional tracks on the southern line.
But a prized project is a line between Southdown and Avondale, on land KiwiRail has owned for decades, when thoughts were afoot of building a new port at the Te Atatu Peninsula.
Southdown to Avondale is now seen as a way to extend the North Island Main Trunk line through the west of Auckland, and up into Northland, leaving the more central lines clearer for passenger rail.
The case for the estimated $6b line would need much higher freight volumes, (though it could also have a passenger role) which would basically come from any decision to relocate Auckland’s port trade to Northport.
That’s another debate which always feels as though it’s getting closer to conclusion, but has defied several rounds of major studies over the past decade.
