Inside the City Rail Link tunnels

Nicole and Liv from City Rail Link’s Communications team joined Derek Whelan, Link Alliance TBM Tunnels Construction Manager inside the tunnels for an exclusive look at what life is like working on the tunnel boring machine (TBM).

On board the TBM we learnt about the machine’s main functions, had a tour around the pilot’s cabin and refuge chamber, and even found ourselves in the in-house lunchroom chatting to the workers.

The TBM started its second drive from the Maungawhau Station (Mt Eden) site in April and is currently excavating the second of two 1.6-kilometre-long tunnels from Mt Eden to central Auckland. The TBM will travel via Karanga a Hape Station (Karangahape) and is planned to arrive at its final destination, Te Wai Horotiu Station (Aotea), in early spring.