| Marsden Point Branch | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Proposed, subject to funding |
| Owner | KiwiRail (land) Previously KiwiRail-Northland Regional Council joint venture[1] |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Rolling stock | None |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 16 km |
| Character | Rural |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
The Marsden Point Branch is a 19 km (12 mi) branch line railway, which is to be built in the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It will diverge from the North Auckland Line at Oakleigh, south of Whangārei, and serve Northport at Marsden Point.[2] The proposal has existed since the 1970s and land for the rail corridor is being actively purchased.[3]
In October 2017, the new Labour–NZ First coalition government announced that it would spend $600 million on rehabilitating the North Auckland Line and building the branch at a cost of $200 million, the total works to cost $800 million.[4] In June 2021 it was announced that the line would be built and was expected to take about 5 years.[2] In April 2023 it was announced that KiwiRail was "progressing" the business case for the branch.[5]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
kiwirail annual report 2012was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Northland rail rejuvenation". KiwiRail. Archived from the original on 23 January 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ Denise Piper (2 July 2020). "Rail line to Marsden Point and possible port move one step closer". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Northland's rail network to get $800 million upgrade". Radio New Zealand. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ *"New Marsden Point rail link one step closer but costs still not revealed". Stuff (Fairfax). 2023. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.