City Rail Link
DATE: 2013 - 2026
CLIENT: Auckland Council & NZ Government
LOCATION: Auckland
DELIVERY TEAM: Link Alliance
ESTIMATED COST: $4.1B
The City Rail Link (CRL) is the largest infrastructure project ever to be undertaken in New Zealand. It is a 3.45km twin-tunnel underground rail link up to 42 metres underground, connecting Waitematā Station (Britomart) to the Western Line at Maungawhau Station.
CRL also includes two new underground stations, Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu, in the city centre.
Three types of tunnels were built for the City Rail Link project:
Tunnel box
The rectangular tunnel boxes were constructed using a combination of top-down and bottom-up methods and are featured at Waitematā Station (Britomart) and Maungawhau Station.
Bored tunnel
The twin bored tunnels run from Te Waihorotiu Station to Maungawhau Station. Due to the gradient of the landscape between these two locations, the twin tunnels vary in depth.
Mined tunnel
Mined tunnels, built by road-header machines, feature at Karanga-a-Hape and Maungawhau Stations.
CRL is currently in its testing and commissioning phase, which involves testing all systems, infrastructure, and moving trains required for its operation. It is expected to open to the public in 2026.
