City Rail Link

City Rail Link
graphic of the route of the rail link
Overview
StatusUnder construction[1]
Owner
  • City Rail Link Limited (During construction)
  • Auckland Transport (After completion)
LocaleCentral Auckland, New Zealand
Coordinates36°50′58.81″S 174°45′48.56″E / 36.8496694°S 174.7634889°E / -36.8496694; 174.7634889
Termini
Connecting lines
  • Western Line (Maungawhau)
  • Eastern, Southern, Western (Waitematā)
Stations4
Websitecityraillink.co.nz
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemAT Metro
Operator(s)Auckland One Rail
Rolling stockAM class
History
Commenced2016 (Preliminary works)
Planned opening2026
Technical
Line length3.5 km (2.2 mi)
Number of tracks2
CharacterUnderground
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationOverhead line at 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Highest elevation70 metres (230 ft) above relative to Waitematā station
Maximum incline3.5%
Route map

Legend
 Western Line towards Kingsland
Maungawhau
Karanga-a-Hape
Te Waihorotiu
Waitematā
Grafton
Eastern Line towards Ōrākei
 Parnell
North Auckland Line towards Whangārei
Newmarket
Southern and Onehunga Lines towards Remuera
Map
Map of the City Rail Link tunnels
Current and proposed lines of the Auckland rail network as of 12 March 2017, showing the City Rail Link between Waitematā and the vicinity of Maungawhau station.

The City Rail Link (CRL) is a rail project currently under construction in Auckland, New Zealand. The project consists of a 3.5 km (2.2 mi) long double-track rail tunnel underneath Auckland's city centre, between Waitematā (Britomart) and Maungawhau (Mount Eden) railway stations. Two new underground stations will be constructed to serve the city centre: Te Waihorotiu near Aotea Square and Karanga-a-Hape near Karangahape Road. Waitematā will be converted from a terminus station into a through station, and Mount Eden station will be replaced by Maungawhau station, a new station with four platforms to serve as an interchange between the new CRL line and the existing Western Line.[2]

The current project is an adapted version of previous proposals to improve rail access to Auckland's city centre with the first proposals dating back to the 1920s.[3] The increase in rail patronage in Auckland during the early 21st century, particularly after the opening of Britomart Transport Centre in 2003, led to renewed interest in the scheme. The 2012 Auckland Spatial Plan highlighted the CRL as the most important transport investment for Auckland and the project has enjoyed strong public support.[4][5][6] Its planning and funding have also been the subject of controversy.[7]

In June 2013, the central government announced its support for the project with a construction commencement date of 2020, four years later than Auckland Council's preferred start date of 2016.[8] Prime Minister John Key announced in January 2016 that central government funding for the project had been confirmed, allowing Auckland Council to start construction of the main works from 2018, with central funds guaranteed to flow from 2020.[9] Preliminary stages of construction, including the relocation of stormwater infrastructure and tunnelling in the vicinity of the Commercial Bay redevelopment, began in 2016. The City Rail Link is scheduled for completion in 2026.

  1. ^ "Supporting City Rail Link". KiwiRail. 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference STUCKTRAFFIC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Auckland Council. "The Auckland Plan". Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  4. ^ Dearnaley, Mathew (14 July 2011). "Rail-loop support swamps backing for road link". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Aucklanders back Brown's rail plans". 3 News NZ. 19 November 2012. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  6. ^ "If mayor can sell rail study, Govt should stand aside". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  7. ^ Rudman, Brian. "Brown hands PM an election poser". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Speech to Auckland Chamber of Commerce". New Zealand Government. 28 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2021.