Britomart newsletter - March 2022

Britomart Newsletter

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Tēnā koutou

This month's newsletter touches on:

Coffee & Croissants event
Britomart Place works
Link Alliance works
CPO hoarding art
Easter weekend train closures
Meet the team - Michelle Parish
Auckland's new rail operators
Survey winner

Coffee & Crossiants

We are excited to be planning an information pop-up in Britomart for next month. This will be an opportunity to have all your burning questions about upcoming works answered by the construction team, while enjoying a sweet treat on us!

Keep an eye out for an event announcement coming very soon.

Britomart Place works

As you may be aware, physical works are about to start ramping up in Britomart Place with an expected start date towards the end of April or early May. These works will be delivered by our contractor, Martinus Rail.

The Martinus team are continuing to liaise with neighbouring businesses and apartments as they finalise construction planning. Babbage Consultants have been appointed to complete the pre-condition surveys of nearby properties.

The diagram below shows the approximate location of the works, ensuring pedestrian and vehicle access through Scene Lane and Britomart Place will be maintained.

(Click on the photo to enlarge it)

Link Alliance works

Link Alliance are continuing to advance construction in the Britomart area. In the Chief Post Office (CPO), the team are making good progress at the back of house, constructing rooms that will be used once City Rail Link (CRL) is operational.

Installing FCU copper pipes for air conditioning, Britomart Station

New steel ramp for the station main controller room, Britomart Station

Smoke curtain

Link Alliance are also preparing to install a smoke curtain inside the CPO - a health and safety requirement for when the CRL opens and patronage increases. This work is expected to start mid-April and continue through to October 2022. Link Alliance are working with Auckland Transport to ensure any disruption is minimised, and neighbours will be sent formal notifications on this piece of work in advance.

The smoke barrier is a physical barrier (glass panels within a steel frame) that will be suspended from a roof beam above the escalators at the western end of the concourse.

Platform works

Work will start soon to raise the two outside platforms at Britomart Station to accommodate CRL's 9-carriage trains and transform Britomart Station from a dead-end to a through station.

This work is currently programmed to start in May 2022 and will go through till February 2023. The work will be done in stages and formal notifications will be sent accordingly. However, if you have any questions we encourage you to email Link Alliance.

Quay Park Yard works

Next month, Link Alliance will be building a traction sectioning cabin at Quay Park Yard (see image below). This is a key piece of rail infrastructure required to supply power within the CRL tunnels.

These works will be located adjacent to Te Taou Crescent and the railway corridor. Site works are due to commence Easter weekend (15-18 April 2022) and will run for 12 months. Usual working hours will be 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday. If night or weekend works are ever required, neighbours will be notified well in advance. Noise will be generated from running plant and equipment, and some hydro-excavation but no large-scale piling or breaking activities are required.

If you would like to know more about what is going on at Quay Park Yard prior to formal notifications being sent, please email Michelle.

CPO hoarding art

Thanks to Link Alliance, production is underway for some gorgeous scrim that will cover the fencing behind the CPO (along Tyler and Galway streets). This will help maintain the attractiveness of the area while construction is underway. We can’t wait for you all to see the final product out on site.

The artist Miriama Grace-Smith and iwi's Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Toarangatira and Ngāti Porou have created art with a green, botanical theme. The scrim will show a repeating series of the six illustrations as seen below.

Easter weekend train closures

AT Metro services will not run on the Auckland network over Easter (15-18 April 2022) while KiwiRail takes the opportunity of lower patronage to continue important network upgrades. KiwiRail is raising the standard of the Auckland rail network with big projects ahead of CRL opening, as well as ongoing works to improve the reliability of train services. During the passenger service closure, KiwiRail and their contractors will be working around the clock so we can achieve as much as possible, as safely as possible.

As always, Auckland Transport will be running rail replacement bus services, and their regular bus services. To plan your journey, visit www.at.govt.nz/journeyplanner.

(Click on the photo to enlarge it)

Meet the team

Michelle (right) on site at Mt Eden with then intern, Jaylen-Rose, who she mentored as part of Link Alliance's 2021 Progressive Employment Programme.

Name: Michelle Parish
Company: Soletanche Bachy Ltd, Link Alliance
Title: Senior Communications and Engagement Specialist

As part of my role for Link Alliance Britomart works, I work with the community to find solutions to issues, support local businesses, and endeavour to make sure people know what we are doing so there are no surprises.

It's a privilege to work in such a great part of Tāmaki Makaurau and I really value getting to know our neighbours in the Britomart precinct.

I’d like to thank the Britomart community for their willingness to work with the team as the City Rail Link is being constructed. It’s very important to Link Alliance to be a good neighbour. Feel free to email or call if you ever have any questions or concerns.

When I’m not at work I enjoy hanging out with my two delightful children or trying to find time to run!

AOR commences rail operations

With a wealth of international experience, Auckland’s new rail network operators are more than well-equipped to keep trains running smoothly for commuters.

Since January 16 2022, Auckland One Rail (AOR) – a joint venture between CIMIC Group’s UGL and ComfortDelGro Transit (CDGT) - have been in charge of passenger train operations across the Auckland rail network. UGL and CDGT are collectively responsible for more than 640 million metro rail passenger journeys and 285 stations across rail networks in Singapore and Australia.

AOR are looking after the provision of drivers and other train staff, development of timetables, station operations and maintenance, safety and security, and customer facing activities, in an initial eight-year contract.

AOR CEO Paul D'Alessio (left) with employees at Wiri Depot

There are still many familiar faces around as most of the existing workforce came across to AOR, many of whom were driving trains into the new Britomart Station when it was first opened in 2003. There is, however, a new Senior Leadership Team, led by CEO, Paul D’Alessio, who will be leading the charge of integrating the current metro systems with the City Rail Link (CRL) when it opens.

D’Alessio said it is incredibly exciting partnership and a new era for passenger rail in Auckland.

“I am very much enjoying working with this talented team to deliver further improvements for customers, ensuring they have a reliable, safe, world-class experience, when travelling with us”, he said.

For more information on AOR, visit www.aucklandonerail.co.nz.

Survey winner

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the Link Alliance survey. It’s a great way to look at what is working well and where the team can improve across all Britomart Station works.

This month’s lucky winner is Peter who won a $100 Britomart Black Card after completing the February survey and entering the draw.

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.

Ngā mihi nui
Britomart Station Team