The City Rail Link (CRL) is New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project ever.
CRL’s world-class rail system will better connect Auckland’s entire rail network. There will be more trains and journeys will be easier and quicker.
The twin 3.45-kilometre-long tunnels which have been built up to 42 metres below the Auckland city centre will connect downtown at Waitematā Station (Britomart) with a re-developed Maungawhau/Mount Eden Station on the Western Line. Two new underground stations will open up central city access; Karanga-a-Hape (Karanghape) with entrances at Mercury Lane and Beresford Square and Te Waihorotiu (Aotea) at Victoria and Wellesley Streets, midtown.
The work will transform the downtown Waitematā Station (Britomart) into a two-way through-station.
It will allow the rail network to at least double rail capacity.
Auckland flood update
1 February 2023
The City Rail Link project was, like most of Auckland, inundated during Friday’s severe weather event.
Chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney said crews worked through the weekend pumping water from the station sites and tunnels.
“I would like to thank everyone involved for their professionalism and dedication to the job in preventing a worse outcome,” Dr Sweeney says.
A statement detailing impacts from the flooding on CRL will be released once a full assessment of all sites, tunnels and equipment has been completed.
All CRL sites are now operational and work has resumed.
Latest work notifications
Introducing the CRL
The City Rail Link is a huge project with an equally huge impact on Auckland’s growth and prosperity.
CRL’s world-class rail system will better connect the city’s entire rail network. There will be more trains and journeys will be easier and quicker.
The $4.4 billion project is ambitious. It’s the largest transport infrastructure project New Zealand has ever built.
Twin 3.45-kilometre-long tunnels connect downtown at Britomart with a re-developed Maungawhau / Mount Eden Station on the Western Line. Two new underground stations will open up central city access; Karanga-a-Hape (Karanghape) with entrances at Mercury Lane and Beresford Square and Te Waihorotiu (Aotea) at Victoria and Wellesley Streets, midtown.
CRL will double the number of people within 30 minutes of central Auckland, which is the country’s biggest employment hub.
When fully operational, 54,000 passengers an hour will use CRL stations at peak times. This is the rail equivalent of an additional 16 lanes of road or three Auckland Harbour Bridges.
Auckland rail capacity will at least double when CRL is fully operational.
The flexibility CRL will deliver means that timetables can be thrown away, travel across the city becomes easier and people can ride in nine-car trains instead of the existing six.
Green and health dividends from CRL’s improved travel choices will mean less reliance on cars and reduced traffic and air pollution.
CRL is the catalyst for multi-million dollar new builds and re-developments, reshaping a vibrant and sustainable city for people to live in.
More than 2000 people are building CRL. Project innovation and complexity is upskilling a workforce to benefit future generations.
CRL is funded jointly by the Crown (NZ Government) and Auckland Council.
City Rail Link is planned to be completed late 2024, but City Rail Link Ltd is currently assessing the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on the project’s construction timetable and its costs. CRL Ltd will have more clarity around those two issues later this year.
Collaboration with mana whenua has created distinctive designs for CRL stations and outside spaces reflecting the city’s unique cultural history and we have been honoured that our Mana Whenua Forum has gifted us station names.
Auckland is going through a period of unprecedented change as we grow to embrace the future.
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