MEDIA RELEASE
3 July 2012
City Rail Link Route Identified

Auckland Transport has identified a route through the city centre for the City Rail Link (CRL) the next step in passenger rail development for Auckland, and is now making contact with directly affected landowners prior to seeking planning protection for the route.

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The CRL will extend the existing rail line underground through Britomart, under Albert, Vincent and Pitt Streets, then beneath Karangahape Road and the Central Motorway Junction to Symonds Street before rising to join the western line near Eden Terrace.

Mayor Len Brown says the route identification is the next big step towards the completion of one of the most important public transport projects in the recent history of Auckland.

“The CRL won’t just provide a convenient train line below the city centre. It will unleash the potential of the entire suburban rail network, increasing frequency, reliability, and speed of trains across all of Auckland,” says mayor Len Brown.

Auckland Transport’s chief executive David Warburton said the CRL will provide for three additional city centre stations in the vicinity of the Aotea Centre, Karangahape Road and Newton and an interchange adjacent to New North Road.

“Our priority is to let property owners directly affected by the City Rail Link know about the route first and then we’ll engage with wider interests.”

The CRL will require the future purchase of surface property from 210 owners Underground portions of land from 70 interests including 12 unit title developments with multiple owners will also need to be purchased for the tunnels and stations.

“Our focus is on protecting a route for the CRL. We first want to work with landowners to help ensure they are well informed and to help us understand their issues. Property purchase is a second step.”

“We are aware that property owners adjacent to the CRL will want to know more about future construction impacts such as noise, vibration and access. We will explain these over the next few months and address them at a greater level of detail in future design and resource consent processes.” he said.

Britomart will become a through station as was originally envisaged when it was built, allowing faster, more frequent and more reliable services across the whole Auckland passenger rail network.

“Improved accessibility is a key to Auckland’s economic growth and that of New Zealand. The CRL will future-proof transport demands for an Auckland that will be home to two thirds of New Zealand’s growth over the next three decades.”

The CRL builds on previous public transport investment including Britomart, double tracking and electric trains. It will provide more trains more often, with faster more reliable and direct services, to more destinations.

He says both Auckland Council and central government agree it makes strategic sense to protect the route now.

The CRL will be built in two 3.5km long, twin tunnels up to 45 metres below the city. As much as possible, the project will be built below city streets to reduce the effects on property owners and city heritage buildings.

Information on the project is available on the project website www.cityraillink.co.nz
ENDS
Attachments: CRL backgrounder and CRL Q&As

http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1207/CRL_Q_AND_AS.pdf

http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1207/CRL_BACKGROUNDER.pdf

[Also: ATCRLmediabriefingJuly2012.pdf
ATCRLlandownerfactsheetJuly.pdf]

Media images available on the project website page at www.cityraillink.co.nz
• Map
• CRL long section
• Electric train
• Aotea Station interior concept design
• Britomart track layout
Key Points
• The Auckland Plan (page 234) provides for the development and completion of the City Rail Link (CRL) by 2020.
• As a first step, Auckland Transport is seeking to protect a route through the city centre for the CRL to connect Britomart to Mt Eden
• Protecting the route for the CRL now makes strategic sense
• Property owners within the route are being contacted directly by AT
• City Rail Link will encourage and shape Auckland’s economic success for years to come by enabling a more productive and efficient city centre
• City Rail Link will improve public transport capacity across Auckland by removing a bottleneck at Britomart, improving access to the city with more frequent, reliable and faster services
• The CRL route and stations are mostly below city streets to minimise effects on private property and the city heritage
• The CRL Rail Link will be built in twin tunnels 3.5km long and up to 45 metres below the city with provision for stations near Aotea Square, Karangahape Road, Newton Road and Eden Terrace
• The CRL will complement investment in other transport infrastructure in Auckland including electrification of the network and the purchase of new electric trains

About Auckland Transport
Auckland Transport is a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) of Auckland Council. It is responsible for all of the region’s transport services (excluding state highways) - from roads and footpaths, to cycling, parking and public transport.
Among its main tasks are:
To design, build and maintain Auckland’s roads, ferry wharves, cycleways and walkways.
Co-ordinate road safety and community transport initiatives such as school travel
Plan and fund bus, train and ferry services across Auckland.
For more information about Auckland Transport go to www.aucklandtransport.govtnz twitter: @akltransport

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