20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue Auckland 1010
Private Bag 92250, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Ph 09 355 3553
Fax 09 355 3550
28 March 2022
Matt Beardsworth
[FYI request #18917 email]
Kia ora Matt,
The information you requested - CAS-526953-Q5W9B0
Thank you for your request for information dated 18 March 2022 regarding the City Rail Link. Please
find responses below in the order that you have answered them.
What is the current envisioned completion date for the City Rail Link, taking into account any
effects of the COVID-19 pandemic? Has there been any change from the previously announced
completion date of 2024?
The City Rail Link project is delivered by City Rail Link is planned to be completed late 2024, but City
Rail Link Ltd is currently assessing the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on the project’s
construction timetable and its costs. CRL Ltd. will have more clarity around those two issues later
this year.
What wil the initial capacity of the City Rail Link be upon its opening? Various operating patterns
made public over the past 5 years have quoted capacities ranging from 15TPH each way to 18TPH
each way.
The CRL is designed for a capacity of 18 trains per hour per direction with passive provisions for 24
trains per hour per direction. The current proposed plan is to operate 16 trains per hour per
direction on the first day of operations.
What is the envisioned timeframe for upgrading the City Rail Link to a capacity of 24TPH each
way? Proposed operating patterns made public in 2017 suggested this upgrade would happen in
the mid-2040s.
The timing of increasing the frequency to 24 tph wil be dependent on government funding and
subsequent implementation of infrastructure enhancement schemes on the wider Auckland network
to increase the overall capacity of the network to match the capacity of City Rail Link.
aucklandtransport.govt.nz
The current rail capacity out of the Britomart Eastern Approach is 20TPH each way – wil this stil
apply once the City Rail Link is opened and in operation? Or wil it be reduced to the same 15-
18TPH capacity as the Britomart-Mt Eden section of the CRL?
The current rail capacity out of the Britomart Eastern Approach will not change. Beyond this fact, we
want to take the opportunity of your request to explain why the capacity of Britomart still increases
by 60% when CRL opens.
The current transport capacity is constrained by the fact that Britomart is a dead end. Britomart
currently accepts 20 inbound services per hour. That is 20 trains per hour one way which is not the
same as 20 trains per hour each way. That is 20 trains arriving from the East. The ‘Day One’ capacity
of the CRL and of Britomart tunnel is 18 trains per hour per direction which is 32 inbound services
per hour. 18 trains will enter Britomart from the East and 18 trains will enter Britomart coming from
the West. Therefore, the transport capacity is increased by 60% at the opening of CRL.
What is the envisioned timeframe for reconfiguring Britomart Station from 5 platforms to 4
platforms, as part of the C7/C9 contract?
This request is declined under section 17 (e) of the LGOIMA as this information is not held by
Auckland Transport (AT).
What are the currently envisioned train operating plans/service patterns for the post-CRL
network?
The proposed operating plan for train services once the City Rail Link opens will have a 15 minute
interval all day service as the building blocks for service with peak overlays. This is compared to the
current 20 minute frequency al day with peak overlays. Western Line Services wil be connected
through the City Rail Link, with Southern Line trains serving Newmarket and the CRL. There will be a
service directly connecting Mt Eden and Newmarket.
Should you believe that we have not responded appropriately to your request, you are able to make
a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman in accordance with section 27(3) of the LGOIMA Act,
and seek an investigation and review in regard to this matter.
Yours sincerely
Christian Messelyn
Group Manager Public Transport Development
