Kia ora

Another busy month at Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape Stations, with a big highlight being the reopening of Albert Street, which includes new bus lanes, wider footpaths and streetscape upgrades. 

As the stations take on their final form, it's easy to get the impression that works are complete. It may look quiet but something special is happening. As part of testing and commissioning, we’re ensuring that our stations are reliable, safe and functional for all passengers. This includes testing all equipment, services and amenity in the station and on the platforms. Once individual functions are tested, we connect multiple functions and test them as a integrated, cohesive system.

Hearing loops must work with audio systems. Emergency announcements must work with emergency egress doors and other safety systems. Read on to hear more about the fascinating work of the testing and commissioning programme, which will continue through into 2026, as well as highlights from both stations. 

Today, Government ministers, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor announced that the upgraded Auckland public transport network with City Rail Link (CRL) at its heart will open to passengers in the second half of 2026. Read the official announcement on the Beehive website at https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/light-end-tunnel-crl-construction.

If you have any questions or concerns about our works at Karanga-a-Hape or Te Waihorotiu Stations, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at karangahape@linkalliance.co.nz or aotea@linkalliance.co.nz.  You can also call us on 0800 CRL TALK (275 8255).

Ngā mihi,
The Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu Station teams.

Te Waihorotiu Station - streetscape update

A significant milestone reached today, following a very busy month!  Albert Street fully reopened today, restoring two-way access between Customs Street West and Mayoral Drive. The upgraded street now includes wider footpaths, new seating, native planting, dedicated bus lanes, and seven skylights bringing natural daylight into Te Waihorotiu Station below.
From Saturday, eight bus routes will return to Albert Street, improving direct connections into the city centre. This week, AT completed a successful trial drive along the new corridor.
 
By the end of next week, the Albert Street slip lane will also be completed, restoring access from the northern end of the lane.

Above and below: Two-way traffic is restored along the length of Albert Street, from Customs Street West to Mayoral Drive. Dedicated bus lanes enable access through the city centre for up to 900 buses using Albert Street daily from Saturday 29 November.  Seven skylights in the centre of the street bring natural light into the concourse and platforms of Te Waihorotiu Station, directly under Albert Street.

Te Waihorotiu Station update

Over the course of 2025 you’ve seen architectural features of Te Waihorotiu Station revealed month by month.  This month, with the station and buildings largely complete, we’re sharing images of the buildings, concourse and platforms, all looking close to how they will look when you ride the trains in 2026. 

While the station looks ready to use, there is still a considerable amount of testing and commissioning to be completed before it is opened for use.  While train drivers are trained and trains are tested, every aspect of the station is undergoing rigorous testing.  This includes thousands of lights, fire detectors and speakers, hundreds of CCTV cameras, kilometres of cables, escalators and fans. 

Public address systems have also been tested, along with emergency alarms and procedures for emergencies. Train drivers and teams operating stations will be prepared for any emergency once trains begin rolling through in 2026.

Above: The magnificent Wellesley Street building. The uplifting ceiling is comprised of more than four thousand golden rods, representing harakeke that grew in this precinct many years ago.  Gatelines, ticket machines, customer service counters, and wayfinding are ready for passengers riding the trains in 2026.

Above: The vast Te Waihorotiu concourse, viewed from the Wellesley Street end of the station, looking north towards Victoria Street West.

Above: Escalators, stairs and an elevator to transfer passengers from the concourse level to the Wellesley Street building. Horotiu, the carved sculpture in the centre of the ceiling, is a kaitiaki or guardian of all those who travel through Te Waihorotiu Station.

Above: Te Waihorotiu Station platforms, sleek, modern and capable of serving thousands of passengers daily in what’s expected to be the busiest public transport hub in Aotearoa.

Above: Looking up the escalators from the platforms, with the stunning cross beam overhead.

Above: Another perspective from the platforms, experiencing daylight entering the station from one of seven skylights, representing seven stars of Matariki.  The skylights are also visible along Albert Street, forming the median barrier in the block between Victoria Street West and Wellesley Street West.

Above: Two entries to Te Waihorotiu Station are captured in this view: the ramp in the foreground leads into the Victoria Street entry, with Te Hā Noa cyclepath and footpath either side of the ramp, providing generous public spaces for the many people who will use this station.  In the background is a second station entry on Victoria Street, known as ‘Albert Street’.

Te Waihorotiu Station – upcoming works

Small sections of work, including minor repairs and the installation of more seats, will be completed around Albert Street.  Finishing touches to the bluestone wall will also be completed, including a handrail on the stairs leading down to Durham Street.  In the station, testing and commissioning will continue until we hand over to Auckland Transport and AOR in 2026.

Karanga-a-Hape Station - Beresford Square

As at Te Waihorotiu, the latest images from Beresford Square are spectacular, with only the final architectural elements and testing and commissioning to complete. The 40-metre escalator, which will carry passengers from the ticketing area two levels below the square down to the platforms, is a standout feature.

While the spaces may look complete, it’s important to remember that the testing and commissioning teams still have thousands of checks to work through before opening day in 2026.

Beresford Square evolution 

Click on the image below to see more than five years of construction unfold in just three minutes. From relocating power, water and gas services back in 2020 to the final paving in 2025, Beresford Square has undergone a remarkable transformation.

Above: Permanent signage and a digital Passenger Information Display (PID) is now in place above the escalators. The floor to ceiling windows are designed to fill the entrance with natural light and offer clear views of the heritage buildings surrounding the square.

Above: The view from the bottom of the street-level escalator on the second underground level. This concourse area is now functionally complete, with only minor finishing touches and testing and commissioning still to be carried out.

Although ticketing is fully automated through HOP cards, credit cards and ticket machines, people remain an important part of the customer experience. The image above shows the nearly completed Customer Service Centre, with windows on both sides of the gateline to assist passengers.

A few metres beyond the gateline is the 40-metre escalator that takes passengers to and from platform level. It’s the longest in the country, and the images below capture its breathtaking scale, clean lines and modern lighting.

Above: The view passengers will enjoy while descending to the landing area on platform level.

Above: From deep under Pitt Street, the view from platform level looking up towards Beresford Square.

Above: This view is from the cross passage at the northern end of the platforms beneath Beresford Square and Pitt Street. The 40-metre escalator sits to the right, while the entrance to the northbound tunnel is shown on the left. The southbound tunnel, heading toward Maungawhau Station, is behind the photographer.

Other highlights at Beresford Square include the completion of signage installation, glazing work, and the commissioning of lifts and escalators.

Beresford Square - upcoming works

Sill installation below the entrance building windows will be underway in December. Testing and commissioning works will continue inside the entrance building, including PA and acoustic tests, which may occasionally be audible from outside the station.

Karanga-a-Hape Station - Mercury Lane

During November, the team completed footpath and asphalt works around the station entrance building, as seen below. A smooth, new road surface is now in place on Canada Street, East Street and the lower half of Mercury Lane.

Auckland Transport are scheduled to complete asphalt works in Mercury Lane later this year as part of their precinct integration project, and East Street in the new year as part of the road renewals and maintenance program.

The Mercury Lane foyer is looking spectacular, with all architectural elements in place, as seen above. Notice the subtle transition from outside to inside on the right of the image, where the earth-toned concrete panels extend into the building interior.

Above: At the rear of the foyer are the public toilets, which are just out of shot to the right of the picture. From this angle you can see two distinct views: through the doors to the right is the lift shaft and Karanga-a-Hape Station signage, and to the left are the staff facilities and back-of-house areas.

Above: Looking east towards Mercury Lane, this impressive perspective is taken from the landing on the second underground level. All three escalators are visible, along with the glass elevator on the left and the 25-metre-tall stadium columns standing prominently in the centre of the image.

Above: The landing area at platform level at the base of the third escalator, which is 27 metres in length. The image below shows the same space from a different angle, highlighting the open, expansive feel of the underground station. The northbound platform and tunnel are visible to the right of the image, behind the fencing.

Other highlights from the Mercury Lane entrance include the installation of poster cases and laneway fencing to the south of the station entrance.

Timetable Testing

Click on the image below to see what a high-frequency service looks like. Over the weekend (Nov 22/23), the test team carried out the second round of timetable tests to simulate 18 trains per hour through the CRL tunnels and stations, as the trains looped around the inner city.

The testing allows the team to check many things, such as whether the trains are too close together or too far apart, and whether they are stopping and opening their doors in the right place for the right amount of time. These may seem like little things, but they all contribute to ensuring we can provide a safe and reliable journey when the City Rail Link opens.

Next year, they'll be testing the timetable on a bigger scale with network-wide testing as the CRL enables more trains, more often, right across Tāmaki Makaurau. It was a huge effort between City Rail Link, Auckland Transport, KiwiRail, AOR and Link Alliance, with many people putting in big hours on the day and during planning and preparation for the testing.

Tunnel platforms

On the tunnel platforms the architectural fitout is mostly complete, with some signage and a few smaller elements still to come. The following pictures show the platforms in all their underground glory, including cameos from the test trains. Please note that while the station looks finished, there are still thousands of tests remaining until opening day in 2026.

Above: Permanent wayfinding signage awaits installation on the platforms.

Above: With the fences removed, the uphill track to Maungawhau can now be seen from the platforms. This section of rail is the steepest in the country (excluding historic and private lines) with a 1 in 33 gradient, much steeper than the next closest, the Raurimu Spiral with a 1 in 52 gradient.

Mercury Lane - upcoming works

Installation of poster cases. Testing and commissioning works will continue inside the entrance building, including PA and acoustic tests, which may occasionally be audible from outside the station.

Is your workplace CRL Ready?

Auckland Transport’s CRL Ready Travelwise team offer a free service for organisations with over 100 employees. This partnership helps businesses take full advantage of the benefits CRL and the new network will deliver for commuting and business travel next year.
We support businesses to encourage staff to use public transport, cycle, or walk to work by providing:

• Incentives to make public transport easier and more attractive
• Tailored information on upcoming bus, train, and ferry changes
• Journey planning services for staff

• Lower costs related to parking, fleet vehicles, and business travel
• Enhance staff safety, wellbeing, and satisfaction with their commute
• Meet company sustainability goals by reducing commute emissions

Take advantage of this opportunity to make commuting smarter and greener for your business and employees.
Contact Travelwisebusiness@at.govt.nz for more details.