Kia ora

We hope you have been keeping safe and well this month. As Auckland prepares to move into the Red Traffic Light system, the Link Alliance will continue to keep up our current stringent health and safety practices. This includes daily health checks, COVID-19 surveillance checks, sanitisation stations and masks worn on site. 

Over the last month the teams across our site have been working hard to prepare for the switch over of the single line running, operate our Tunnel Boring Machine and build the cut and cover tunnels. You can read more about our busy month and what’s coming up in our newsletter below. 

Ngā Mihi, 

Mt Eden Station team 

Update on our tunnelling activity

Dame Whina Cooper our Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) continues her race to complete her first drive to Aotea Station. The 910 tonne boring machine has now passed Karangahape Station and travelled over 973 metres to date. She is expected to finish the first leg of her journey to Aotea early next year. 

Over at Mt Eden Station our mine tunnelling team are working hard to complete the mine caverns for the future train lines. Preparation is underway to break through the third portal or tunnel entrance face in the coming weeks. From early next week, there will be some small works using the breaker, and in approximately three weeks time, they will commence with breaking the concrete on the portal face. This is an exciting milestone for the team as this is where the TBM will enter to start its second drive in 2022.

Important CRL works over the holiday season

As part of the City Rail Link works to build twin underground tunnels and connect the future train lines to the existing North Auckland Line (or Western Line), there will be a Christmas Block of Line (BOL) between 26 December 2021 – 23 January 2022.  

A Block of Line is a period where there will be limited to no trains running on the rail network. During this time, construction along the North Auckland Line (also known as the Western Line) will continue over the Christmas and New Year period at the Mt Eden construction sites, in order to maintain project momentum. 

The Single Line running switch over is a significant construction milestone for the City Rail Link project and work during the Christmas BOL is essential to prepare the existing North Auckland Line (Western Line) to meet with the City Rail Link at Mt Eden Station in the future. 

What works you can expect: 

• Vehicle movements along the rail corridor 

• Laying new train tracks 

• Excavation works 

• In addition to the BOL activity taking place during this period, some civil construction activity will continue on site as well as 24/7 tunnelling activity which will continue at a reduced capacity. 

You can find out what construction works are happening over this holiday season by visiting https://www.cityraillink.co.nz/mt-eden-calendar or by emailing us at mteden@linkalliance.co.nz  

Quarterly stakeholder survey feedback

A big thank you to those of you who took the Quarterly Stakeholder Survey – 3.4% more than participated last quarter. Your advice is essential to how we deliver communications and engagement at Mt. Eden. This is what you told us in this survey, and what we are going to do about it. 

Nearly 70% of you told us that it is easy to ask questions or raise concerns, and emails and station newsletters are still by far our most popular channels. That’s great! We’ll continue to streamline our emails so they are relevant for you and to be honest, we love writing the newsletter as much as you love reading it.  

Several people said that phone messages went unanswered this quarter. Our policy is to respond to phone messages within two hours and to emails within 24 hours of receiving the communication. Anything short of that is below our standards. Most of the Mt Eden team work the usual workday hours and will answer work phones during those hours. In addition, the Mt Eden 0800 number is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including weekends and holidays. If you are calling outside of office hour’s we strongly encourage the 0800 number as your first call. In the meantime, we’ll review our response times and make sure we are delivering on our quick turnaround promise.  

The thirst for information about the TBM remains strong. Our online DigCRL website tells you everything you want to know about how the TBM tunnels, and the people on board who navigate the TBM. The “How does a TBM work?” page is especially useful. There is a video to describe the TBM’s workings and you can click on + signs to find out more about specific areas. When we are able, we’ll hold another TBM specific info hub at Te Manawa.  

Another area where our survey participants want more information is related to the work in Basque Park. In this newsletter and in the December edition, we’ll feature stories about Basque Park to tell you more and, before the holiday break, we’ll provide you with an additional notification to update you on upcoming work. 

In addition to our existing channels, and as the result of previous stakeholder survey responses we introduced an online construction calendar. This calendar is accessible through the website or by QR code on fridge magnets and street signs. It tells current information in a snapshot view, of upcoming construction that is outside of business as usual. While some survey participants expressed concern that we are changing channels, we are adding more ways to be in touch and up to date. We have not, and will not, remove any existing channel.  

And the winner is...

Everyone who took the survey this quarter, providing an email address, went into a draw to win a $100 dollar voucher to spend at a local restaurant. The winning name will be randomly drawn this Thursday and the winning entry will be presented with their prize this Friday. Congratulations!  

Our next quarterly stakeholder survey will come out in February. Thank you to all those who took the time to share their views in the November survey. 

Mt Eden community kit

Earlier this month, the team headed off-site to deliver a community kit to our site neighbours, to help our community to stay up to date and connected with us during lockdown.  

This community kit included a QR code fridge magnet linking to our online construction calendar, links to our virtual wellbeing sessions, information on how to contact us, and a free coffee voucher supporting one of our fantastic local businesses. 

We have received great feedback on our community kit, in particular the performance of our construction calendar QR code. We have now updated our systems and enhanced our mobile app experience, so please give the scanning another go to see our upcoming construction activity.  

Basque Park update

As part of the City Rail Link (CRL) upgrade to Mt Eden Station, a wastewater pipe needs to be diverted to Basque Park. 

This is a small, but essential part of the CRL project. As well as ensuring that the trackwork at Mt Eden Station can be constructed, the works at Basque Park will help to separate and future proof the wastewater and stormwater network. 

To celebrate the park and to thank our neighbours for their patience this month we’ve installed three picnic tables in the park, temporary art on the hoarding designed by a NZ artist and additional lighting around our site. As picnics have soared in popularity, we’re also installing two new rubbish bins in the park later this week to keep it tidy and green. 

Curious Georges in the neighbourhood can also take a peek at our work by looking through the windows installed on our hoardings! 

Going forward the team are now preparing to set up a drilling rig that will be directional drilling from Basque Park to our main Mt Eden Station site. Open trenching and excavation will occur between two existing manholes within Basque Park to enable the horizontal directional drilling from Basque Park to the intersection of Ruru Street/Nikau Street. A new larger manhole will then be installed to replace the southern-most manhole and there will be a temporary open trench of approximately 60 metres within the park that allows for a launch pit to be able to install the new pipe. 

The directional drilling is the most disruptive part of our works and will take 9 weeks to complete with the total pipe diversion works being completed by October 2022. 

You can find out more by emailing us at mteden@linkalliance.co.nz or by checking out our website https://www.cityraillink.co.nz/basquepark  

Wellness pilot programme review

Quite a few of you have told us that you love and appreciate the wellbeing programme piloted these past few months. We’re grateful for that feedback as the trial period for the programme comes to a close. The pilot was intended to trial two things that community told us they wanted: 

1. A quiet space to work or study 

2. An activity programme away from construction to be mindful 

Two days into the pilot, back in August, we went into lockdown. While that put a damper on our chance to test out our quiet space idea, we were able to pivot quickly and move our activity offer online. 

That was well received in Level 4 with nearly 40 people coming along to virtual sessions in the first month. The pilot is scheduled to close out in December for review. For those who have grown attached to these sessions our last wellbeing update will include information about where you can continue to take sessions with our providers outside of Link Alliance. Thank you to all our neighbours who supported the programme. We loved sharing that space with you and hope we can come together again in 2022. 

We’ll update you about next steps in the New Year. 

Installation of new rail lines

The construction work on the City Rail Link project is progressing at pace and the installation of the new rail lines has commenced. This is a significant milestone for the project. 

Up until recently, the work in the rail corridor has been about the removal of the tracks, utilities relocations and the excavation then preparation of the trench which will accommodate the new tracks. This was basically the foundation work. 

The next stage consists of building for the future rail line, including the the laying of ballast. Layers of gravel or coarse stone are used to form the track bed and to help with drainage. These dense layers require leveling and stabilizing before sleepers can be laid at precise intervals along the length of the line. Once this is completed the tracks are finally laid on top and fixed into place. 

To ensure the safe operation of the rail system and avoid possible derailment, there can be no horizontal and/or vertical deviations in the track geometry. If present these will affect the speed the train can travel, comparable to bumps in the road.  

To align the rails, a tamper machine is used to make them parallel and level. 

The tamper lifts each sleeper and the rails with the use of hydraulic jacks, and then packs ballast underneath. The tamper tines (or prongs) penetrate the ballast bed from above and with a dual action of squeezing and vibration, results in an equally compacted, stable, ballast bed. When the sleeper is laid down again, the rails are aligned and lie at the correct level. The operation of this single machine saves time and money by being able to perform both functions simultaneously. 

Prior to the introduction of the mechanical tamper, the task was completed by manual labour. As well as being faster, more accurate, more efficient and less labour-intensive, tamping machines are essential when concrete sleepers are used as they are simply too heavy to be manually lifted. 

Specialised railway engineers will install the new tracks and Overhead Line Equipment (OHLE) - the assembly of masts, gantries and the wires which supply the power for the electric trains. 

The Blocks of Line period over the Christmas holiday period is when a significant amount of this work is undertaken and will result in the completion of the new rail tracks. Once operational, the trains will then switch onto these tracks.

Have an iconic sweet treat on us

To thank you for your support and patience, the Link Alliance would like to share a sweet treat with the Mt Eden community – on us!  

Our friends at Mr Whippy have been providing kiwi’s with a slice of summer since 1964, calling the attention of neighborhoods with their iconic jingle.  

During the months of December and January, we’ll be treating our neighbours to New Zealand’s post popular ice cream flavour – Vanilla.

Mr Whippy trucks loaded with vanilla goodness will be popping up near you this summer.  

• 15 December – between 11.30 - 1.30   

• 21 December – between 11.30 -1.30   

• 12 January – between 11.30 - 1.30   

• 21 January – between 1.30 - 3.30   

The bells will be heard on: 

• Normanby Road, northern end  

• Enfield Street near Botanica apartments 

• Enfield Street near Mountview Village  

• Akiraho Street, near Mt Eden Road   

• Fenton Street   

• Porters Avenue   

• Rendall Place near Basque Park  

• Link Alliance Infospot  - corner of Nikau and Flower Streets   

The truck will stop for 10 minutes at each location. Be in quick for ayour thank you treat. It’s one way for us to tell you how much we appreciate your encouragement, patience and interest in the project.  

Speaking of Mr. Whippy! 

Artweek Auckland and artist Mark Whippy

Earlier this month, Link Alliance celebrated the success of Artweek Auckland and the festival’s new and fun digital format. It was great to see the community joining our self-guided art walks and experiencing the visual artworks surrounding our future stations. 

One of our local artists we would like to shine light on this month is artist Mark Whippy. Mark uses his art to capture the stories and characters of everyday people, documenting the world of work through his art and choosing our very own Link Alliance workers to be his subject. 

Mark has been working on construction sites since he was 18, and has used his work experience as inspiration. Mark gravitates towards painting construction workers as he believes most people don’t get the see the characters behind the scenes of a big project, much like the City Rail Link project.  

Supporting our local businesses

Buying local is a great way to reconnect with our community and support our favourite New Zealand businesses. 

While lockdowns can be tough, we need to remember our local businesses are there for us – from their opening hours, to their wonderful hospitality and for making those beautiful coffees and cakes that we love so much. It’s now our turn to be there for them and get our community humming again. 

We can do this by: 

• checking out the local shops  

• buying produce that has been locally grown 

• browsing local online websites and following them on social media 

• trying somewhere new in the community for a coffee and cake 

Today we would like to feature The Sandwich Club at 53 New North Rd. 

“We are a small family run cafe in the heart of Eden Terrace. Serving delicious Allpress Coffee, freshly baked goods and some of the best gourmet sandwiches in the area. We are open Monday to Friday from 6am-4pm and Saturday 7am-1pm. Pop in and say hello 😊” 

Uptown Magazine

Here at Mt Eden, we are excited to promote the new issue of Uptown Business Association’s ‘Uptown Magazine.’ It is a fantastic read, and even features a profile piece about our very own Site Superintendent, Pete Byrne.  

Find yourself a copy at your local Uptown Cafe, store or online here. 

Jargon Buster

A rail sleeper is a component of track structure that primarily supports the rails by anchoring the track and giving it a solid base for trains to pass over.  

Sleepers are horizontal support that lie underneath the rails and rest on top of the ballast, they can be made out of wood, concrete, or metal. 

Sleepers are also known as ‘rail ties’, simply because they do just that, tie the rails together and keep the correct space of gauge in order to hold our future train tracks on top.  

Update on our information sessions & tours

Our information sessions and perimeter site tours will be paused for the remainder of the year. Usually, they are held on the first Tuesday of every month at our visitor centre at 1 New North Road – Te Manawa.  

We look forward to resuming our information sessions and tours once it is safe to do so, keep an eye out for our communications and as always, if you have any questions about the project, you can contact us on 0800 CRL TALK (press 5 for Mt Eden Station) or mteden@linkalliance.co.nz.  

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