Passenger Services Set To Begin In Two Days As The City Rail Link Formally Opens

After years of
planning, construction and preparation, the countdown is
almost over. This Sunday, the City Rail Link (CRL) will
become part of everyday life, ushering in the biggest
transformation of Auckland’s rail network in
generations.

Ahead of the start
of passenger services, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon,
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, ministers, councillors and mana
whenua formally opened the City Rail Link on Friday,
celebrating New Zealand’s largest ever infrastructure
project.

The City Rail Link creates a new rail network
in Auckland, with new stations, new train routes and a new
timetable that will connect more Aucklanders to more
destinations across Tāmaki Makaurau.

“Today
is the beginning of a new chapter. We’re incredibly proud of
what has been achieved and are excited to welcome
Aucklanders aboard,” says Auckland Transport Chief
Executive Stacey van der Putten.

“Our focus now is
on helping customers confidently navigate the new network
and delivering the safe, reliable service Aucklanders
expect. Significant interest is expected on opening day as
Aucklanders experience the City Rail Link for the first
time. We encourage people to familiarise themselves with the
new rail network and how it connects with the wider public
transport system before travelling.”

The launch of
passenger services will represent one of the largest
operational changes ever undertaken on Auckland’s public
transport network, drawing on more than a decade of
planning, delivery and preparation by City Rail Link Ltd,
Auckland Transport and KiwiRail to prepare the railway for
service.

“The City Rail Link is one of New Zealand’s
most ambitious infrastructure projects,” says City Rail
Link Limited CEO Pat Brockie.

“Today was a chance to
reflect and recognise the thousands of people who have
helped bring it to life. What Aucklanders will experience on
Sunday is the result of years of engineering, construction,
testing and collaboration. We are incredibly proud of the
part we played and are excited to see it ready to serve
Auckland for generations to come.”

In recent months,
the focus has been on the extensive testing of trains and
systems in the new tunnels and stations as well as
preparation for frontline staff involved in implementing and
running an entirely new train network.

Maintaining
Auckland’s existing rail services while building and
integrating an entirely new underground railway, along with
widespread network upgrades and new rail infrastructure has
been a significant undertaking.

“Customers will see
new stations and new journey opportunities, but behind the
scenes there has been an enormous amount of work to ensure
the network is ready to operate safely and reliably from day
one,” says Bevan Assink KiwiRail’s Chief Metro
Officer.

“It’s also been about preparing the wider
network to support the CRL. From renewing critical
foundations and upgrading rail infrastructure, to installing
modern drainage and delivering new stations in Drury, 19kms
of electrification to extend the metro and a 6.5km third
line to separate freight from passenger rail at the busiest
part of the Auckland network. This transformation has been
many years in the making. We’re all very happy to have
made it to this huge milestone.”

Auckland One Rail
and KiwiRail are deploying extra resources during the
opening period, to ensure train services and track
infrastructure run as smoothly as possible, and any issues
can be responded to quickly.

Additional staff will
also be at stations across the rail network to help
customers navigate the new stations, understand the new
routes and answer questions about the new
timetable.

There will be a number of activities taking
place in or around stations on the network run by local
communities and local boards including things such as coffee
carts, buskers,
giveaways.

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