Hello and happy Friday,

Happy New Year from the team at City Rail Link! We’re back and ready for another exciting and busy year as we build Tāmaki Makaurau a world-class rail system.

With the first CRL tunnel completed in late 2021, the Dame Whina Cooper tunnel boring machine (TBM) is set to start its second drive from the Mt Eden to Aotea in April.

A little closer to home in the Britomart Station, KiwiRail and their contractor Martinus have just finished working around the clock over the Christmas block of line (BOL) to finish an impressive piece of work inside the tunnel between Spark Arena and the platforms - but more on that below.

This year's work around the station includes moving an underground wall, making new rooms in the Chief Post Office basement and modifying track infrastructure to make sure trains can drive straight into the CRL line when it opens in late 2024.

We'll keep notifying you about upcoming impactful or disruptive works through this newsletter and we'll also be setting up a Community Liaison Group (CLG) to discuss these works in more detail. If you know someone who would benefit from receiving this newsletter or would like to become a member of our CLG please email info@cityraillink.govt.nz.

Underground tunnel works

We’re pleased to announce work in Britomart Station tunnels over the Christmas block of lines (when no trains were running) was a great success!

Teams worked around the clock in the tunnels between Spark Arena and the station platforms to modify and improve existing infrastructure, to prepare the track for changes required by the City Rail Link (pictures below).

This included installing a complex new track and then pouring a 75-metre-long concrete slab under it. This will give more flexibility for rail operations and ensure trains can continue to run through Britomart as redevelopment progresses in the coming years.

The project required precision and meticulous planning. A laser was used to ensure the tracks were in place within an accuracy of two millimetres. Then the concrete was poured from trucks that were parked above in Britomart. It follows the successful addition of a new scissors track set, associated OLE and signalling changes in 2020.

Recently, CRL Chief Executive Dr Sean Sweeney (pictured below) placed the last clip on the new track - symbolically completing the small but complicated package of works carried out by contractors KiwiRail and their contractor Martinus.

“I’m thrilled at how the team rallied in challenging circumstances to get the job done within the allocated timeframe,” Sweeney said.

Link Alliance Works

Utilities relocation work at Britomart Place is almost complete. You may remember this work started in June 2021 with utilities investigations. Critical infrastructure was identified before moving it out of the footprint of the CRL project so that strengthening works could occur. This work has gone smoothly and remains on schedule.

Thank you for the support and understanding of our neighbours in this area. Look out for a Link Alliance stakeholder survey. You will have the opportunity to share your thoughts on how this piece of work went and go in the draw to win a $100 Britomart Black Gift Card!

And from the very high to the very low, Link Alliance are also building rooms under the CPO (pictured below). These rooms include offices, a communications room and a systems room - all necessary for the future operation of CRL!

Lastly, to liven up the area as construction continues, Link Alliance fences along Tyler Street and Galway Street will soon be covered in attractive artwork featuring a prominent New Zealand artist! We can’t wait to share this with you.

If you have any questions or comments relating to Link Alliance work be sure to contact the team: Britomart@LinkAlliance.co.nz.

Meet the team

Name: Nicole Lawton
Company: City Rail Link Ltd
Title: Snr Stakeholder and Communications Advisor

Kia ora team,
My name is Nicole, and for those of you who haven't met me yet - I'm the communications lead for the Britomart Station works. Besides putting together these newsletters, it's my job to make sure you - our stakeholders and project neighbours - are informed of upcoming works and have a platform for meaningful engagement with the project. This includes interpreting important technical information from our partnering organisations - KiwiRail, Martinus, Link Alliance and Auckland Transport - and communicating these to you in an easy-to-use format. It also includes setting up and running our Britomart Community Liaison Group (CLG) - more on that below.
If you see me around please introduce yourself. I look forward to meeting you all!

Kia kaha.

Community Liaison Group (CLG) meeting

We're busy getting ready for upcoming works in the Britomart area and would like to take you, our stakeholders and neighbours, along for the journey. If you would like become a member of our Britomart CLG please email info@cityraillink.govt.nz and we'll make sure you're on the list to receive notifications about upcoming meetings.

What's a CLG?
CLG are meetings between project neighbours and the CRL team that occur quarterly, or more frequently as necessary. They enable a two-way information flow between the community and the project by asking attendees to contribute to discussions on issues relevant to the design and construction of the project.

More about our CLGs can be found here.

KiwiRail's Christmas BOL update

Our partnering organisation KiwiRail has successfully delivered an unprecedented work programme across the city during a temporary closure over the Christmas/New Year period.

Between 26 December 2021 and 23 January 2022, work was carried out across 31 different sites in Auckland. It was the single biggest mobilisation of resources for a temporary closure - enabling over 1,100 people to work more than 155,000 hours on the rail network. This helps to make the network more resilient and reliable, and to advance some of Auckland’s major infrastructure projects - like the City Rail Link!

KiwiRail Acting Chief Executive David Gordon says a big 'thank you' to the people of Auckland, especially to rail corridor neighbours.

“We know this work can be noisy and sometimes at inconvenient hours and we thank you for your patience. This necessary work progressed a $1.5 billion suite of projects which will enable a world-class rail service,” says Mr Gordon.

Upcoming long weekend Block of Lines

Essential work will be completed along the rail corridor during the upcoming long weekend block of lines (BOL). For more information on planned rail closures please click here.

Auckland Anniversary Weekend

On Friday 28 January from 10.30pm, buses will replace trains on the Eastern and Western lines, and between Britomart and Newmarket on the Southern and Onehunga lines.
From Saturday 29 to Monday 31 January buses will replace all train services.

Waitangi Weekend
Over Waitangi Weekend there will be rail replacement bus services running

On the Eastern Line between Sylvia Park and Manukau
On the Southern line between Penrose and Papakura
Pukekohe to Papakura connection

All other train services will be operating to their current timetables.

A message from Auckland Transport

Following the closure over the Christmas/New Year break, train services on all lines have resumed service into Britomart Station. Auckland Transport acknowledges the work from City Rail Link, KiwiRail and contractors to have the project completed on time.

Bus, train and ferry services

The good news is that our bus, train and ferry services are returning to full timetables.

Ferry services have already returned to normal timetables
From 1st February all bus services will return to normal timetables
From 8th February rail services will return to normal timetables
We’ll continue to work with bus, train and ferry operators to understand the impact that the current COVID-19 outbreak will have. There is a chance that as the current outbreak spreads it will result in staff shortages that will impact on the delivery of our services, as a result of staff calling in sick or having to go into isolation.

For this reason you need to be aware that services may be cut at short notice. We strongly recommend that you check before you travel by planning your journey online through the AT Journey Planner or on the AT Mobile app.

Travelling at Red

While at the Red setting, public transport can be used to travel throughout the Tāmaki Makaurau region. If you're worried about space on onboard your trip, you can check the occupancy available on the AT Mobile app and on the information screens at stops and stations.

Face masks continue to be required at all times on buses, trains and ferries, and when moving around our stations, stops and terminals. You must also continue to scan-in onboard your service using the COVID-19 Tracer app.

Find out more
For information about Britomart and Quay Park Yard work click here.

How to contact the Britomart Station team
If you have any questions or concerns about our works, please email the Britomart Station Team at info@cityraillink.govt.nz or phone us on
0800 CRL TALK (275 8255) and press option 1 for Britomart work.

How to contact the KiwiRail team
You can contact KiwiRail by calling 0800 801 070 ext 43042, emailing contactus@kiwirail.co.nz or visiting kiwirail.co.nz.

Ngā mihi nui
Britomart Station Team