There's potential for a rail hub near Dannevirke to take 200-thousand tonnes of logs off the road

Up to four-million-dollars will be given to KiwiRail to build the hub at Tapuata, if the Government validates the idea.

Deputy chief Todd Moyle says the proposed rail hub stems from a year-old business case that looks at wood volumes in the lower North Island.

He says volumes are likely to increase about three-fold over the next decade.

Todd Moyle says having fewer trucks on the road means fewer emissions, which is also a good thing.