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Welcome to the CRL Media Centre where you will find our latest media releases, our responses to media queries and who to contact if you have a media inquiry.
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2025 News Releases
Successful CRL train test signals Auckland’s bright future
13 February 2025
A giant, slow step in a journey that will transform travel in New Zealand’s largest city was completed successfully last night when a test train made its first trip through the full length of Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) tunnels.
The 3.45-kilometre-long inaugural journey ran south from Waitematā Station (Britomart) under central Auckland past the new underground stations at Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape to Maungawhau Station on the Western/North Auckland Line.
The three-carriage train left Waitematā station on time at 9pm and took two-and-a-half hours to complete its first journey. The speed was deliberately slow – around five kilometres an hour – allowing technicians to complete their first round of underground checks and balances relating to tunnel clearance, power supply and signalling. The train successfully completed five trips during the night.
The successful test run is welcomed by Auckland Council which, along with the Government, funds New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project.
“This is momentous for Auckland and the City Rail Link programme, which has had its fair share of challenges,” says Mayor Wayne Brown. “It’s good to see progress being made because Auckland deserves a public transport system that will deliver benefits for Aucklanders and visitors alike. I’ve always said I was determined to get the project finished and over the line, and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Getting the green signal to proceed came after exhaustive planning and safety checks that peaked last week when the tunnels’ overhead lines were energised ready to provide the electricity to power trains.
City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Patrick Brockie, described the journey as a “colossal milestone” that the project had been working towards since spades first went in the ground at Britomart in 2016.
“City Rail Link Ltd was established to deliver NZ’s biggest infrastructure project – one that will be an absolute gamechanger for Auckland. Last night’s test run is a major step in our transition from a construction site into a railway and we now start a comprehensive testing schedule ahead of people riding the train next year,” says Mr Brockie.
CRL is a new rail connection that turns dead-end Waitematā into a through line station to better connect the central city and the wider rail network.
KiwiRail says the first end-to-end journey launched a key testing phase to confirm trains can seamlessly transition between CRL and the wider network.
“This is a huge milestone for the CRL project and all our partners. We’ve all worked tirelessly to get to this point and seeing a train make its first journey through the full length of the tunnels is true cause for celebration. Last night’s first end-to-end journey launches the key ‘dynamic’ train testing phase of the CRL project to confirm that trains and the CRL infrastructure can seamlessly integrate with the wider KiwiRail network,” says Bevan Assink, KiwiRail’s Programme Director City Rail Link.
“These tests will accelerate in the coming weeks. This includes brake testing on what is one of the steepest sections of railway in New Zealand, recovery procedures and the start of hands-on training for drivers. The start of CRL dynamic testing in the tunnels closely follows another key milestone - the successful completion of KiwiRail’s latest stage of its network upgrade programme, where significant progress was made with major network rebuild works over the summer holidays,” says Mr Assink.
Auckland Transport director public transport and active modes Stacey van der Putten says: “When City Rail Link opens in 2026 it will better connect Aucklanders to the people and places they want to visit. For the first time the rail network is joined up for trains at the heart of our public transport system."
“The test train has made the first direct, easier journey that tens of thousands of people will be making every day. But before that happens, we’ve still got a lot of work to do to make sure journeys on Auckland’s new railway are safe, reliable and seamless from day one,” says Ms van der Putten.
Running trains through the tunnels is but one part of a busy schedule of tests and checks working to ensure Aucklanders can use a world class rail system in 2026. Work includes testing complex tunnel ventilation systems, tunnel supervision and security, lighting, upgraded communications, and providing hands-on training for Auckland’s metro drivers and station staff – and many more.
“At all times,” Mr Brockie says, “safety is our absolute priority.”
Mr Brockie acknowledged the work of his CRL Ltd team, the project’s main Link Alliance contractors, KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail.
“Everyone involved in being ready for the first train has the right to be proud – a great achievement that demonstrated the very best in innovation and co-operation to deliver an outstanding outcome for Auckland and its more accessible future,” he says.
First test train journeys through City Rail Link
Hon Chris Bishop, Hon Simeon Brown
A test train has now completed its first trip through the full length of the City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel in Auckland, representing a critical step forward in this game-changing public transport project for our largest city, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown say.
“Started under the previous National Government, CRL will double Auckland’s rail capacity and reduce congestion when it opens in 2026, enabling Aucklanders to get to where they want to go quickly and safely meaning a more productive Auckland. There is still a lot more work to do, but it’s great to see measurable progress being made on site as we countdown to the CRL opening next year,” Mr Bishop says.
“The CRL tunnel’s overhead lines were energised last week, enabling power to be provided to trains in the tunnel. The first test train ran a 3.45km-long journey last night, from Britomart Station to Mt Eden on the new underground section of railway, the first train to travel on a brand-new rail line since 2012.
“This important test train allowed technical experts to complete their first round of testing relating to tunnel clearance, power supply and signalling. Further testing will ramp up in coming weeks, including brake testing, recovery procedures, tunnel ventilation systems, supervision and security systems, lighting, communications, and the start of hands-on training for Auckland’s metro drivers and station staff, among many others.”
“CRL will be a gamechanger for Auckland’s public transport network, turning Britomart from a dead-end station into a through station, enhancing connections between the central city and the wider rail network,” Simeon Brown says.
“The first train through CRL is an important milestone for the project. Once complete, CRL will result in significant time savings, and make public transport a much more viable option for Aucklanders.”
“This is momentous for the City Rail Link programme and Auckland ratepayers who have made a significant contribution, alongside government, to get this project completed,” says Mayor Wayne Brown.
“Our city deserves a public transport system that will deliver for Aucklanders and visitors alike. I’ve always said I was determined to get the project finished and over the line, and while the project has had its fair share of challenges and there are lessons we’ll take from it, I’m pleased to see that progress has been made and that we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the CRL project to get us to this point. There is a lot more work to do, but today represents an important milestone in moving from a construction site into a railway,” Mr Bishop says.
“Tens of thousands of Auckland commuters are right behind you, and they’re looking forward to experiencing the benefits your hard work will deliver when CRL opens next year.”
Note to editors:
Once operational, City Rail Link (CRL) benefits for Auckland passengers at peak times include:
On the Southern Line – trains every 5 minutes (compared to 10 minutes currently) north of Puhinui, every 8 minutes between Papakura and Homai, and every 10 minutes between Pukekohe and Drury
On the Eastern Line – trains every 5 minutes between Sylvia Park and Ōrākei
On the Western Line – trains every 8 minutes between Swanson and Maungawhau
Subject to Auckland Transport confirming train timetables, the combination of using the CRL tunnel and reduced temporary speed restrictions are expected to see:
Maungawhau (Mt Eden) to Waitematā (Britomart): under 10 minutes (half the current time)
Kingsland to Waitematā (Britomart): 13 minutes (8 minutes faster than currently)
Henderson to Waitematā (Britomart): 38 minutes (8 minutes faster than currently)
First CRL test train set to start
12 February 2025
Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) is set to start testing trains in the project’s tunnel overnight tonight (February 12/13) pending final checks being successfully completed.
The planned start of running test trains through the tunnel follows two significant milestones: the successful energisation of the tunnel’s overhead electric lines earlier this month, and the official handover of the new tunnels and track for train testing to KiwiRail in the early hours of this morning.
City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Patrick Brockie, says testing trains in a ‘live’ tunnel is an exciting milestone that starts the transition of the project from construction site into a railway.
“We’ve been working towards this milestone since construction began and it’s exciting to see the project getting closer to being able to deliver the significant benefits Aucklanders can expect when it opens.”
Mr. Brockie adds that tonight’s train running is the first of a comprehensive testing programme that will start with trains running slowly – with safety at the forefront.
“Safety is the absolute priority. New Zealand has limited experience with this phase of the project, particularly in a tunnel. We are dealing with 25 thousand volts of electricity and before the first test train drives into the tunnel, we have to ensure the safety of everyone involved,” Mr Brockie says.
The test train’s 3.45 kilometre journey overnight between the Maungawhau and Waitematā (Britomart) Stations will be deliberately slow – around five km/h – to allow technicians on board to complete their first round of checks underground.
Tonight marks the start of an extensive programme of train testing that will accelerate in the coming weeks and continue right up until opening.