Auckland, Nov 6 NZPA - Ports of Auckland Ltd estimates that 100,000 truck trips a year will be saved by the Government's $6 million investment in rail sidings at Wiri.

Prime Minister Helen Clark announced the investment in Wiri Inland Port Rail Link project today.

The project involves the construction of rail sidings and a hardstand adjacent to land Ports of Auckland uses bordering the North Island main trunk line at Wiri.

Effectively there will be a freight exchange point inland from the port in south Auckland, increasing the capacity of the port located in the inner city.

The funding is conditional on Ports of Auckland reaching an agreement with Ontrack, the government-owned rail network operator. The sidings and hardstand area will be owned by Ontrack.

"A large proportion of Ports of Auckland's import containers arriving from overseas at the central business district port can be moved by rail to Wiri, then taken by truck to local businesses," said Ports of Auckland managing director Jens Madsen.

The service could be up and running by mid 2009. Ports of Auckland estimates a saving of 2.5 million truck kilometres a year, helping to "green" the supply chain.

The project is undertaken in partnership with Ports of Auckland, which will meet the cost beyond the Government's $6m contribution.

The Government is bringing forward infrastructure spending to boost jobs in tough economic times.

The investment announcement has been expected by industry participants for some months.

Ports of Auckland's rival Port of Tauranga already has an inland port in Auckland called Metroport at Southdown.

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