New Zealand is marking the completion of the country’s largest transport infrastructure project with the opening of Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) in September. Costing NZ$5.5 billion and taking a decade to plan and build, the CRL consists of four distinct stations along 3.45 kilometres of twin-tunnel, double track underground railway, and reaches up to 42 metres below ground at its deepest level.
There are two completely new underground stations and two heavily redeveloped stations which complete a new continuous line.
At opening, the network can move up to 19,000 passengers per hour through the city at peak times, an increase of around 50% on current capacity. Combined with wider rail network improvements, the infrastructure is built to scale up to 27,000 passengers per hour, with a goal of ultimate maximum capacity of 54,000 per hour by 2035. The new infrastructure is also designed to accommodate longer electric trains of nine railcars as demand grows.
Until the CRL, trains reached central Auckland and terminated there, but the new line enables passengers to pass through the city centre and continue to the other side of the network. The CRL transforms Auckland’s train network from one which terminated in the city centre to a connected network with services crossing the city, a feature which is expected to allow for more frequent trains, shorter journey times and an increase in capacity.
Some journeys are expected to be halved in time as a result of the new CRL.
Jointly funded in a 50/50 partnership between the New Zealand central government and Auckland Council, the cost of the project almost doubled the lower range of the initial estimate, which was NZ$2.8 billion.
British engineering and consultancy firm Mott MacDonald was involved in the project since 2012 as the lead technical consultants across the design and construction phases. As part of the project, pedestrian spaces and cycleways, trees, public art and te ao Maori narratives have been created in the purpose-designed station precincts.
Initial feedback from the public has been positive with one commuter saying “it really reflects our communities.” Another passenger told Radio New Zealand: “I’m coming in first time on the train. Oh My Gosh! It was just so smooth!”
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