Kia ora koutou,

As another year draws to a close we just want to say thank you for all your support in building

Below includes an update on works, an announcement on the winner of the station survey competition and what you can expect for the Britomart area over Christmas.

Remember there will be a rail Christmas Block of Line (BOL) between 26 December 2021 – 23 January 2022, with limited or no trains running on the rail network. For information, click here.

If you have any questions or concerns about our works at Britomart over Christmas, or you would like to discuss the impact of our work with a member of our community team, please contact us using the details below.

Contact KiwiRail by calling 0800 801 070 ext 43042.

Link Alliance Works

The Link Alliance has been onsite at Britomart Station since June this year, working in two main areas. The first is at Britomart Place where the team have been relocating existing utilities outside of Britomart Station’s footprint area, and the second is within the Britomart Station itself. Utilities works includes moving gas, water and power main pipes out of the way of CRL infrastructure (pictured below).

So far, the team have disconnected a gas main, installed a new pipe, and worked with various utilities providers to manage successful shutdowns and reconnections in the area. Utilities relocations work at Britomart Place will be completed by the end of February 2022.

Underneath the Chief Post office, work is being done in the existing tunnels and renovation work is underway including to provide future station working teams with more office space and to create an all-important larger kitchen!

Work behind the scenes at Britomart Station, though largely unseen, will continue through until 2024. Next time you are in the Britomart area, take a moment to rest at Te Komititanga (pictured below), gaze towards the beautiful, historic Chief Post Office, and imagine - despite the relaxing surrounds - of all that hard mahi (work) going on underground!

Neighbour Satisfaction Survey

Thank you everyone who completed the Link Alliance stakeholder satisfaction survey. These results help the Britomart team continue to strive in delivering exceptional communications to you in a way that works best for you.

Overall, Britomart stakeholders were 84% satisfied with how the Link Alliance were working at Britomart. This is an awesome achievement and we are keen to keep the momentum going.

Feedback told us email communication was preferred but that you also valued community liaison group meetings. These will start again in the new year. For more information please email.

For those that have been asking after the Te Komititanga management plan, please review the shared link and let us know if you have any questions.

Finally, congratulations to Ross Boswell! Ross won the $100 Black Card giveaway as part of the quarterly stakeholder survey lucky draw.

Christmas Block of Line Works 2021

Britomart Tunnels

These photos might give you a sense of déjà vu. They are taken from the inside of the completed CRL tunnels that run from Britomart Station to Albert Street. The Link Alliance is tracking along well with linking the CRL to this existing tunnel.

TBM Breakthrough into Aotea Station!

A little to the south of the C2 tunnels, our workers have just celebrated a major milestone. City Rail Link’s Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), Dame Whina Cooper, broke through into the Aotea Station in central Auckland today (22/12/21), marking the end of the first of its two drives underground journey for the project.

“Our aim was always to get into central Auckland before Christmas and here we are – pleased and proud at what a committed Link Alliance team of contractors has achieved in some pretty testing times. It’s been a hard year but a better rail network for an international city like Auckland is getting closer,” says City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney.

Chief Post Office Light Show

Auckland’s headline attraction this festive season is none other than our old friend, the Chief Post Office!

If you've not already got the chance to check it out, the Christmas Light Show runs every evening of December - from 8.45pm to 11pm - up until Christmas eve, illuminating the CPO in Te Komititanga, Britomart.

CPO Milestone Achieved

Congratulations to the Link Alliance team working at the Chief Post Office! A milestone has been achieved with the completion of demolition works. Unbeknownst to many Britomart public transport users, the crew have been busy doing demolition, which was required before building rooms necessary for the future operational City Rail Link, including a mains control room and office space. Pictures below.

The Strand Parnell Updates

KiwiRail and its contractor have been busy preparing The Strand Station for Eastern Line passengers to use over the last week of the rail network’s annual temporary shutdown.

To improve the passenger experience, platform upgrades saw new shelters installed, tactiles laid, and a temporary ramp built. This to to ensure full accessibility as people transfer between trains and rail replacement buses to/from Britomart.

Additionally, teams adjusted the track, overhead wires and train-stabling facilities to allow for the change in use at this time. While future passengers will benefit from the new shelters and the temporary ramp will be removed in late January.

Find out more
For information about Britomart and Quay Park Yard work click here.

How to contact the Britomart Station team
If you have any questions or concerns about our works, please email the Britomart Station Team at info@cityraillink.govt.nz or phone us on
0800 CRL TALK (275 8255) and press option 1 for Britomart work.

How to contact the KiwiRail team
You can contact KiwiRail by calling 0800 801 070 ext 43042, emailing contactus@kiwirail.co.nz or visiting kiwirail.co.nz.

Ngā mihi nui
Britomart Station Team