Auckland’s City Rail Link Embarks on First Public Test Run

Prime Minister and Ministers Experience Underground Journey

A significant milestone has been reached for Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) as non-project personnel, including the Prime Minister, took part in the first underground test train journey. This landmark event signals progress for the ambitious infrastructure project.

A Glimpse of the Future

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, alongside senior ministers, city leaders, and officials, experienced the subterranean transit firsthand. The train traversed from the newly developed Maungawhau Station through a tunnel, arriving at Waitematā Station, also known as Britomart.

Upon exiting the train, Mr. Luxon remarked on the tunnel’s illumination, comparing it to a science fiction experience. “We were just saying it’s a bit like Star Trek, warp speed up there the way the tunnel is lit,” he told reporters.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, who was also on board, acknowledged the project’s lengthy and costly development. “We don’t really see exactly what we’ve got here just yet, but it’s good, this is a good step in the direction,” he stated.

“Getting to today had not been cheap or easy, with Auckland enduring a decade of construction that has been tough.”

—Wayne Brown, Auckland Mayor

Mayor Brown also issued a caution, emphasizing the need for future projects to be executed more efficiently and cost-effectively, noting the current financial realities.

Extensive Testing Underway

The City Rail Link project has already completed over 1,600 test runs within its new tunnels. Train driver Vince Ahkuoi, who operated the special service, expressed the significance of the day. Another driver, Grant Dowie, highlighted the extensive preparation, noting that test trains had accumulated over 5,000 kilometers since February, with 50 drivers undergoing training.

This testing phase has involved gradually increasing train speeds, starting from a crawl and progressing to 70 km/h. A crucial aspect of the trials is ensuring the trains physically fit within the tunnel dimensions, a detail that has caused issues in other global projects.

Mr. Dowie explained the meticulous approach: “I know people are thinking ‘well why aren’t we opening the tunnel’ but it’s a journey that we have to go through to make sure it’s safe before we open.”

Aucklanders Anticipate Public Service

City Rail Link chief executive Patrick Brockie acknowledged the VIP test run as a major achievement but stressed that considerable work remains. He described the testing and commissioning phase as the most intricate part of the $5.5 billion project.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis shared her positive impressions, drawing parallels to international subway experiences. “The feeling I have is it looks like when you’re overseas and you go in a proper underground subway and that’s an experience many New Zealanders have had and now they can have it here in Auckland,” she said.

The CRL is a vital project for Auckland’s future transportation network. Similar urban rail expansion projects, such as London’s Elizabeth Line, have also faced extensive testing phases before public opening. The Elizabeth Line, for instance, saw its phased opening begin in May 2022, with full opening achieved in November 2022, demonstrating the thoroughness required for such large-scale transit systems.