Lyttelton Port Company expects freight bump from Aratere retirement

Stacks of containers at Lyttelton Port Company, the third-largest port in NZ. (Image: LPC)

Tue, 20 May 2025

Lyttelton Port Company expects to see a bump in freight volumes when the only rail-enabled Interislander ferry retires this year.In April, Rail Minister Winston Peters and KiwiRail announced the Aratere would be retired to enable demolition of a wharf in Picton necessary for the local port to prepare for the arrival of new ferries in 2029.“Goods will still get from A to B by shifting freight on to the Kaitaki and Kaiārahi, making use of coastal shipping for some heavy freight such as grain, and adapting their rail and ferry schedules to b...

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