Peters earlier told Ryan Bridge TODAY, \u201cyou can\u2019t be excited\u201d – citing time and money as an issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been massively delayed, it\u2019s massively overpriced but thank God the light at the [end of] the very long tunnel is coming to open today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Transport Minister Chris Bishop was brimming with excitement this morning as he described a feeling of \u201chubbub and hullabaloo\u201d around the country\u2019s first underground train metro. <\/p>\n
The public will be able to board the City Rail Link from early Sunday morning, with the first train departing Otahuhu just before 6am. <\/p>\n
Train enthusiasts have snapped up tickets for the journey alongside politicians and officials.<\/p>\n
Addressing those gathered to mark the opening ceremony milestone Chris Luxon thanked those involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat infrastructure projects begin before the shovel is in the ground. They require leaders who need to think beyond political cycles.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so much more than a transport project, it\u2019s about shaping economic growth for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said that while he was proud to lead a \u201cmodern city\u201d, he acknowledged the toll it had taken on local businesses and ratepayers.<\/p>\n
\u201c[I have] very mixed feelings about today. <\/p>\n
\u201cFirstly, relief. I\u2019m relieved to see it\u2019s open at long last and I\u2019ve lived long enough to see it. <\/p>\n
\u201cI have some sympathy for businesses disrupted at street level and I look forward to you seeing increased business.\u201d<\/p>\n
He gave credit to Auckland\u2019s former mayor, to applause from the crowd.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have admiration for the tenacity of Len Brown to get it past the Government. Who then took it off him and signed contracts I never would\u2019ve signed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Auckland Transport chief executive Stacey Van Der Putten said it was an important day but acknowledged it had been a \u201csad week\u201d, referencing the death of a MAGS student near Baldwin Ave station.<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cIt ripples through the community, the rail impact and the school and has a lasting impact on how we feel.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking live on Ryan Bridge TODAY from Auckland\u2019s new Te Waihorotiu Station, based by SkyCity, Bishop said it was a momentous occasion. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fair to say there\u2019s a bit of hubbub, a bit of excitement building in the city for the official ribbon cutting and hullabaloo at 9am.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople watching will probably say \u2018oh that looks like something in London, Sydney, Paris\u2019 or whatever and it\u2019s Auckland, look how good it looks.\u201d<\/p>\n Bishop said despite anxiety expected for Sunday, they were ready.<\/p>\n \u201cAny new timetable, any new change to the network, you\u2019re a bit anxious about it, but we\u2019re good to go.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been an enormous amount of work done over the last few years to get ready for this day.<\/p>\n \u201cWill there be teething problems? Probably \u2026 human nature being what it is we should calibrate our expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n Coalition colleague Peters was more restrained, telling Bridge while he planned to go to the station, \u201cyou can\u2019t be excited\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis has been massively delayed, it\u2019s massively overpriced but thank God the light at the [end of] the very long tunnel is coming to open today.\u201d <\/p>\n KiwiRail CEO Peter Reidy told the Herald earlier this week <\/a>he was confident the system was ready.<\/p>\n