Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Commuters are being warned of disruptions after Kiwirail announced it will retire the Aratere this year.
The rail-enabled Interislander ferry will make way so redevelopment can begin at its bespoke dock in Picton, ahead of two new, larger ferries entering service in 2029.
Kiwirail chief customer and growth officer Adele Wilson told Morning Report there would be tradeoffs.
"It's important to be very real about that. At peak times we already sellout across the Strait and there will be more sold out days.
"The other thing that New Zealanders need to be aware of is that as they've previously been able to travel in very popular time gates, such as eight o'clock in the morning from Wellington, not everybody will be able to do that over this transition period.
"People will have to travel in the afternoon sailings and in the 8pm sailings. Some people, if you really need a date, may even have to go on the 2.30am [sailing]."
Some people won't be able to get the traditional days they've travelled either, Wilson said.
"There are going to be some tradeoffs and there are going to be some new ways of travelling that people have to adjust to."
Wilson said the ship's retirement was not because of any issues with the ship.
"The Aratere has very specialised loading equipment and when that wharf is not available, the Aratere can't actually operate, so nothing to do with the ship this is about the construction project."
A temporary wharf was not viable and came at a very high cost of $120 million, she said.
"That amount of money is just not affordable."
The ship can hold 650 passengers, 230 cars and 28 rail wagons.
Disruptions caused by the ship's retirement were regrettable but essential, Rail Minister Winston Peters said.
"We have to shut down that port which has been used by rail-enabled ferry the Aratere, to fix it."
Peters told Morning Report it will keep the costs down and make the work needed to prepare for the new ferries go faster.
He said this was the right decision for rail long term, through he acknowledged there would be some job losses.
