Auckland Transport media release

2 June 2016

The build is on for the City Rail Link

Auckland’s top transport priority has taken a major step forward with today’s ground-breaking ceremony for the City Rail Link (CRL). Mayor Len Brown, Auckland Transport chairman Dr Lester Levy, the Prime Minister and Minister of Transport officially marked the start of the construction.

When completed the $2.5 billion project will mean more frequent trains across the network and more direct services to the city centre. Auckland Transport will be able to grow the present rail network to reach an average better than one train every 10 minutes at peak for most stations.

The CRL will almost double the number of people on the trains to 30,000 an hour at peak times. Dr Levy says, “It will change the look and feel of Auckland setting the city up for future growth.”

Auckland will grow by more than 700,000 people in the next 30 years and Dr Levy says the CRL, coupled with bus improvements and major investment in other infrastructure such as roads and highways, is the only way to keep Auckland moving. “The CRL is the bold game-changer Auckland has been waiting for.”

Mayor Len Brown says good things come to those who wait. “Auckland, we sure have waited, this project has been debated and tossed around for more than 90 years. It was first flagged in 1923 by the then Minister of Railways. Now we are finally pushing the “Go” button.”

Dr Levy says the CRL isn’t just about freeing-up central Auckland, it has transport benefits for large parts of Auckland, including road users. “Making public transport a better travel choice will ease pressure on roads for those who need to use them.”

During the past decade, rail patronage has increased from three million trips a year to 16 million but further growth of the rail system, including increases to train frequency, is constrained by its dead end at Britomart, this limits the entire network’s capacity. The CRL will join up the rail network, allowing trains to run both ways through Britomart doubling the number of trains.

Key Facts

• The CRL will use twin 3.4 kilometre long tunnels up to 42 metres below the city streets. It is estimated to take five and a half years to build at a cost of $2.5 billion when inflated to 2024 costs

• Two new underground stations at Aotea (11 metres deep) and Karangahape Rd (33 metres) and a re-developed Mount Eden Station

• Cut and cover construction along Albert Street and at Eden Terrace

• Most of the twin 3.4 kilometre long tunnels will be built with a tunnel boring machine

• 7.5 metre diameter tunnel boring machine (about half the size of the one used at Waterview)

• About one million cubic metres of spoil – more than Waterview because of station excavations

• 88 subterranean properties affected by tunnels

Benefits to the Auckland economy

• A successful Auckland is pivotal to New Zealand’s future economic development, with GDP per capita 30-50% higher than other parts of the country. Auckland provides about a third of New Zealand’s GDP

• Improved accessibility, particularly to the city centre is the key to Auckland’s economic growth. By 2041, the city centre will account for 30% of the region’s GDP

• Transport is critical to shape urban form and lead economic development. Cities with efficient transport systems are more productive than dispersed places. Significant economic gains can be made from transport investment that improves access for people into areas of high employment density

• Cities form and people choose to work in them because they are more productive due to scale and proximity. The availability of a skilled and educated workforce attracts high value-added businesses

• There are a number of economic benefits from businesses and a skilled workforce being close together in city centres. These agglomeration benefits drive higher productivity and wages, making successful city centres increasingly important to a country’s economy

• Auckland is New Zealand’s commercial capital; home to more than 60% of the top 200 companies. Auckland accounts for over 34% of NZ jobs, most in the urban areas, while Wellington, Hamilton and Tauranga combined, account for 13% of jobs

• The city centre is the hub of Auckland’s economy with 1 in 6 employees working there and up to 16,000 employees per square km. City centre workers earn 27% more than the average for Auckland

• Major construction projects, such as the CRL, usually create increased economic benefits by employing people and spending with local businesses

Full details on the CRL at: https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/city-rail-link/

Video about the CRL and the build at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwdQL7ny3E6_VGvDN1fOCX_xAP3cBfQJS

ENDS

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