We have built two 3.45km-long, twin rail tunnels up to 42 metres below the city centre.
CRL extends the existing rail line underground through Britomart, to Albert, Vincent and Pitt Streets, then cross beneath Karangahape Road and the Central Motorway Junction to Symonds Street before rising to join the western line at Eden Terrace.
The biggest myth about CRL is that it's just a inner-city "loop." It's not.
Think of it like the Waterview tunnel, joining up motorways. By joining the rail network and adding new stations, the City Rail Link will revolutionise the way you get to your destination. It allows the rail network to almost quadruple capacity.
Following the end of the construction programme, CRL Ltd will hand over the completed infrastructure to KiwiRail and Auckland Transport (AT), who will then carry out the additional work required to open the CRL to its first passengers.
It will be AT’s role to determine new timetables and routes for the Auckland rail network once CRL becomes part of it. This is AT’s current draft map.
This animated flyover video shows the overall design and layout of CRL
ROUTE: The City Rail Link designation from the Waitematā Station (Britomart) to Eden Terrace and the new Maungawhau Station
As much as possible, the project is below city streets to reduce the effects on property owners and heritage buildings.
There will be two new stations Karanga-a-Hape Station and Te Waihorotiu Station and Maungawhau - a redeveloped Eden Terrace/Mt Eden station.
Routes and timetables
Following the end of the construction programme, CRL Ltd will hand over the completed infrastructure to KiwiRail and Auckland Transport, who will then carry out the additional work required to open the CRL to its first passengers.
Auckland Transport is responsible for the region’s public transport services.
CRL will be added to AT’s rail network. Auckland Transport will be responsible for determining the routes and new timetables.
AT is presently working on its Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) which will describe the public transport network that AT proposes for the region until 2031 and will identify the services that are integral to that network. That will include details of the way the network will incorporate the CRL lines and stations.
AT’s proposed plan notes:
City Rail Link creates the rail capacity to have more trains running more often.
City Rail Link will speed up train journeys meaning twice as many people will be within 30 minutes of central Auckland.
By 2026 trains will run every 7.5 minutes at peak travel times and every 15 minutes the rest of the day.