Auckland’s busiest rail corridor gained a major boost today with the official opening of the Third Main Line between Wiri and Middlemore, a $328 million project that Ministers say will transform both freight and passenger rail in New Zealand’s largest city.
Rail Minister Winston Peters, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Mayor Wayne Brown marked the occasion in South Auckland before joining a train ride down the new 6.5km track.
“We Funded It”
In a speech at the event, Peters described the line as “a long time coming” and stressed that while others had called for it, the current Government had delivered the funding.
“In late 2019 the New Zealand Upgrade Programme started life as an NZTA wish-list of unfunded projects,” Peters said. “We insisted rail be included. On 29 January 2020, we announced four rail projects — including this Third Main, Papakura to Pukekohe electrification, upgrades in Wellington, and new Drury stations. That was more than $1 billion for essential upgrades.”
He credited KiwiRail for delivering the line, singling out chief executive David Gordon and his team for “putting in the hard yards.”
Freight and the Economy
Peters warned that without the Third Main, Auckland’s growing passenger services would have crowded freight off the rails — with serious economic consequences.
“Ports of Auckland work during the day. No trains in or out would hit imports and exports hard. Exports are the very reason our country can afford infrastructure in the first place,” he said.
He pointed to major companies already investing in rail capacity — from Fonterra’s Hamilton hub in the “Golden Triangle” to Mainfreight’s new facilities and Coca-Cola’s expanded sidings — as evidence that shifting freight off roads brings national benefits in reduced congestion, carbon savings, and road maintenance costs.
“The fact is this railway must serve commuters and the economy,” Peters said. “And investments like the Third Main Line do exactly that.”
More Frequent Passenger Services
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the project also unlocks far more frequent urban rail services, with trains expected to run every 5–8 minutes at peak across the city.
“Major cities around the world have frequent services Auckland has never seen,” Bishop said. “This line is a breakthrough for sustainable growth, giving Aucklanders real transport choice while strengthening productivity.”
The new track also adds resilience, providing an alternative route during disruptions.
Laying the Groundwork for the Future
Peters signalled that further expansions are already on the radar, including additional third and fourth tracks on the Southern Line, and long-term development of the Avondale–Southdown corridor, which could one day carry eight trains an hour and create an outer loop for Auckland while freeing freight from the congested CBD.
“An efficient freight route across Auckland is not just about Auckland, it’s about Northland, Southland and everything in between,” he said.
Project Details
The Third Main project includes:
- A third track between Wiri and Westfield junctions, including Puhinui and Middlemore.
- Track upgrades at Quay Park, where freight heads to the Port of Auckland.
- Junction improvements at Wiri and Westfield.
- A redeveloped Middlemore Station with a new platform.
- 50 new track turnouts to improve flexibility.
With today’s opening, Peters said, the message is clear: “Unlike those who are fast on the lip but slow on the hip — we deliver.”
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