KiwiRail selects design team for ferry terminal upgrades

Work to upgrade the ferry terminals in Waitohi Picton and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington will soon commence following the selection of the design consortium to prepare the final designs.

The consortium is made up of two engineering consultancies, WSP and Jacobs. It will take the existing concept design through to final design, ahead of construction starting later this year.

KiwiRail said it is working closely with its port partners, Port Marlborough New Zealand and CentrePort, on all aspects of the redevelopment project, and with Mana Whenua in Waitohi Picton and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington to ensure the design recognises the importance of these areas to Iwi.

The ferry terminal upgrades form part of the NZ$1.45 billion Interisland Resilient Connection Programme (iReX) which will also see two new, rail-enabled ferries coming into service in 2025 and 2026.

KiwiRail said the diesel-battery hybrid ferries will reduce the Interislander’s carbon emissions by 40 per cent once the old ferries are phased out.

The design consortium will deliver designs that will include new terminal buildings in both Waitohi Picton and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington as well as designs for the wharves for the new ferries, linkspans and elevated walkways, seawalls and scour protection, ground improvements, new rail systems and vehicle marshalling, drainage, landscaping, and stormwater.

Elements of design will be specific to Waitohi Picton and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington reflecting the unique nature of each location.

The Waitohi Picton port redevelopment was granted consent in May 2021 under the Covid-19 Fast Track Recovery Act 2019. KiwiRail is awaiting a decision on its request that the consent application for Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington to also be considered under the Covid-19 Fast Track legislation.