Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL), a 3.4km subway project, has taken roughly a decade and an estimated $5 billion to construct, impacting multiple governments, ministers, councils, and mayors along the way.
New Route
Previously, trains from the west of Auckland traveled above the city and then diverted through Newmarket before reaching the central business district – a route described as illogical. The new CRL route will allow trains to travel directly from Mt Eden, descending underground for 3.4km to Waitematā Station.
The project is expected to save commuters approximately 20 minutes on their journeys. The CRL will also add two new central city stations: Karanga-a-Hape Station, located beneath K Road, and Te Waihorotiu Station, adjacent to Queen Street and the Sky Tower. Previously, commuters had limited city center access, with only one stop at the Pacific Ocean end of Queen Street.
Doubling the Trains
Train Driver Trainer Joel O’Dea has trained 280 drivers for the new line. At peak times, trains will run through the subway approximately every four minutes. The CRL allows trains to enter Waitematā Station from both directions, effectively doubling the capacity of the station.
The CRL is expected to open at some stage in 2026, offering commuters a faster and more convenient way to travel through Auckland’s central city.
Watch John Campbell ride the CRL on TVNZ+
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