Mayor welcomes opening of rail container terminal

Published on 03 September 2015

3 September 2015

Mayor Annette Main says the CentrePort rail container terminal, which was officially opened today, is an asset that will improve Whanganui’s connectivity to the world.

“The development of this terminal and the partnership behind it is exactly the sort of investment we need in Whanganui,” Mayor Main said.

“We appreciate the commitment of local businesspeople Brendon and Rob Bartley and their team at Ali Arc Logistics, as well as CentrePort and KiwiRail, to make this venture a reality.

“The Government has made a commitment to developing economies in the regions through the Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Growth Study. The provision of this additional transport option to get goods to and from market will greatly assist our ability to connect with the global supply chain, now and as our economy grows.

“It’s early days but the container terminal is already well utilised and steadily growing in cargo volumes. We are seeing increased rail services to our district as KiwiRail collects freight from CentrePort’s inland hubs and transports it to Wellington.

“I hope that this demonstrated confidence in the region will act as a catalyst for further investment. It’s a great example of how innovation and collaboration can make our region competitive and connect us with global markets.”

The Direct Connect Container Services terminal is located in Gilberd Street and is served by CentrePort’s daily train service, CentreRail, which runs between the terminal and CentrePort in Wellington.