Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) has officially opened, marking the launch of New Zealand’s first underground railway.
The project reportedly cost NZ$5.493bn (£2.36bn). It connects Auckland’s rail network through two 3.45km twin tunnels, alongside major upgrades to two existing underground stations and two completely new underground stations.
The City Rail Link stretches from Waitematā Station in downtown Auckland to Maungawhau Station in Mount Eden.
UK engineering and development consultancy Mott MacDonald has worked on the project since 2012, providing technical leadership through concept and reference design, consenting, procurement and delivery. As principal technical advisor, the firm coordinated a multidisciplinary team of specialists covering rail systems, stations, civil, structural, utilities and safety disciplines.
Mott MacDonald technical director for major projects Peter Taylor said: “City Rail Link is a once-in-a-generation investment that changes how Auckland moves, grows and connects.
“The opening marks the culmination of more than a decade of involvement in one of New Zealand’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.”
Mott MacDonald said it drew on experience from major rail and underground systems – including London’s Elizabeth Line and Australia’s Sydney Metro and Melbourne Metro Tunnel – to deliver the project.
It also assisted Auckland Transport and KiwiRail with asset readiness and handover, facilitating the transfer of asset ownership from Link Alliance and City Rail Link Limited to the organisations responsible for operation.
Taylor added: “We are proud to have supported the project from its earliest stages through to opening day, bringing specialist underground rail expertise to New Zealand and supporting the delivery of a rail system that will benefit Aucklanders for generations.”