Transport links key for port

Good rail and road links are strengthening Port of Napier's cargo catchment area, says port chief executive Garth Cowie.

The Napier-Taupo state highway will be upgraded from June next near which will allow the weight limit on trucks to increase, lowering the cost of freight. More freight is expected to arrive by rail.

A $1.2 million rail upgrade is being undertaken to enable the port to handle longer trains and turn them around quicker.

"We are currently handling logs from Whanganui and Woodville," Mr Cowie said.

"We have had our first trains from Masterton. In the longer term we are looking at Marton and Wairoa as well."

He said Wairoa was in the natural catchment for the port.

"If we can provide a rail solution that takes trucks off the road and a lower export price, in terms of getting the log to the market rather than having to go to an off-port store in Gisborne, then I think we have a solution that exporters will support. We are working with Kiwirail to try to achieve that."

If there was enough volume of logs from the Masterton area, the line would remain open.