Airport aims to link bus, air and rail

BY JIMMY ELLINGHAM

Palmerston North International Airport has plans to become the city's main rail and inter-city bus terminal – a move that could cost millions of dollars.

Concept drawings shown to the Manawatu Standard for an expanded airport include space for a bus terminal, an underground passenger rail terminal and freight siding.

But airport chief executive Gary Goodman said the idea had not even been properly costed yet. Options for the airport were being kept open.

Palmerston North City Council, which owns the airport, is investigating possible sites for a new bus terminal, with $10 million set aside for that project.

The airport's rail proposal could result in a siding off the main trunk line on to airport land and down Setters Line, or a rail loop.

A section owned by Palmerston North property developer Paul Barris would also be used for any rail development. All consents required to designate a corridor for rail use have been finalised after a land swap with airport neighbours.

Mr Goodman said the interest in rail related to providing services such as taxis and food in one location.

The airport has had "preliminary discussions" with KiwiRail about the plan. Mr Goodman said it saw no commercial reason to invest at the moment. He was open to the possibility of the airport developing the rail link and leasing it back to KiwiRail.

"What we've created is a distribution hub within easy access of all distribution modes," he said. "It's got to work commercially."

Plans to create a ring road around Palmerston North would mean the airport was ideally placed for a transport base.

Mr Goodman said he did not agree that a bus terminal must be centrally located.

"[Passengers are] not going to get off the bus and start walking."

The city was getting too big to have everything in The Square.

"Manawatu has huge opportunities because of our central location and we're only just picking up on that."

Mr Barris said the airport was crucial to the city, while the Tremaine Ave railway station was past its prime.

Although KiwiRail and the council may not be interested in the venture now, he thought the development had potential in the long term.

"It would be a very boring world if everyone accepted the first no."

Mr Barris said the rail terminal and freight loop could cost $2.5m to $3m, according to KiwiRail.

Mayor Jono Naylor said the council would have to look at the costs, but was open to considering the proposal along with other passenger transport options. "The thing we've got to look at is what is the future of rail as passenger transport," he said.

"At the moment I certainly think that a central location to the city [for a bus terminal] is likely to be the best option."

KiwiRail spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said: "The concept is technically feasible but the challenge would be identifying sufficient volumes of freight and passengers to make it viable."

HAVE YOUR SAY
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