KiwiRail adds new inter-island freight service
KIWIRAIL SAYS IT HAS RESPONDED TO A GAP IN THE market by introducing a new weekday rail freight service between Auckland and Christchurch.
The daily interisland service is called KiwiRail NZ Connect and has been launched to assist New Zealand businesses that are currently grappling with delays caused by continued disruption to ports and shipping lines.
KiwiRail Group chief executive Greg Miller says the KiwiRail NZ Connect service, which starts early this month, will boost capacity and connections for moving domestic freight between the North Island and South Island, in time for the peak season.
“We are heading into the country’s busiest period for freight, from October through to March,a time when businesses look to restock ahead of Christmas and New Year and when demand for products increases and exports rise,” Miller says.
“Many businesses are still feeling the ongoing impacts of COVID on the global supply chain and experiencing delays on imported goods. Shipping lines continue to struggle to offer certainty of capacity and delivery for the movement of freight between the islands.
“KiwiRail has identified this gap in the market so is stepping up to relieve some of these pressures by offering a faster and more certain domestic service than currently is available from shipping lines alone.’’
The new service will depart Auckland each day, Monday to Friday, and connect with Interislander ferries before continuing to Christchurch.
“Congestion in NZ’s supply route between Auckland and Christchurch will continue for the foreseeable future until global shipping capacity and reliability return,’’ Miller says.
“Using 60-foot wagons, it will provide up to 300 TEU (20ft equivalent container units) of additional weekly capacity, alongside the weekly services we already offer.’’
T&D