92-830: AT Metro is a public transport brand in Auckland , New Zealand , managed by Auckland Transport (AT). It was launched in December 2014, following the decommissioning of the MAXX brand with updated bus and train liveries , staff uniforms, wayfinding signage and a refreshed external communications identity. In 2023, AT began decommissioning the AT Metro brand, replacing it with the refreshed AT brand identity. Bus operator contracts were updated in late-2014 requiring fleets to be repainted in AT Metro livery in tandem with their standard maintenance schedule. Staff uniforms were rolled out within
184-563: A third line to Auckland between Westfield and Wiri or Wiri and Papakura, to allow freight trains to bypass stationary passenger trains; further new electric trains and the construction of a new light rail line, the City Centre–Māngere Line . In late January 2022, the New Zealand Government approved a NZ$ 14.6 billion project to establish a partially tunneled light rail network between Auckland Airport and
276-515: A "rapid rail" scheme was ultimately unsuccessful. Removal of the tram system, little investment in Auckland's rail network and growing car ownership in the second half of the 20th century led to a collapse in ridership across all modes of public transport. From a 1954 average level of 290 public transport trips per person per year (a share of 58% of all motorised trips), patronage decreased rapidly. 1950s patronage levels were only reached again in
368-520: A 3.5 km (2.2 mi) tunnel between Britomart and Mount Eden, beneath Albert Street and including underground stations near Wellesley Street and Karangahape Road, with the Wellesley Street station, 18 m (59 ft 1 in) under the surface, potentially being larger and seeing more passengers than Britomart (projections of up to 7,700 per peak hour). By October 2008 ONTRACK said that it had reached an agreement in principle with
460-559: A Hape' be accepted, and altered to 'Karanga-a-Hape' in keeping with national and te reo Māori orthographic standards; that the unofficial name 'Mount Eden' be discarded, and replaced by an official dual name, 'Maungawhau / Mount Eden'. In March 2023, the NZGB announced the decisions made by the Minister for Land Information Damien O'Connor . Te Wai Horotiu and Karanga a Hape were changed to Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape respectively, as per
552-542: A bus connection between Auckland Airport , Manukau City and Botany . There are currently small sections of bus lanes on SH16 between Westgate and Newton Rd as an interim "short-term" improvement before the Northwestern Busway is built. At peak hours express buses serve commuters from the outlying towns north and south of Auckland. Express bus 125X took up to 2 hours to cover the 43 km (27 mi) from Helensville to Auckland. However, this route
644-531: A decision was made to lengthen the platforms so as to incorporate the Beresford Square entrance from the outset. Demolition of buildings on Mercury Lane began on 4 November 2019. Demolition at this site will be done in two phases, with completion expected in April 2020. Demolition of buildings at the Beresford Square site was expected to take three years. In October 2019, demolition of 30 buildings in
736-481: A ground option as well. In 2004, Auckland City Council prepared preliminary plans for an underground railway connecting Britomart Transport Centre to the Western Line in the vicinity of Mount Eden railway station and incorporating three new stations: near Aotea Square, Karangahape Road and the top of Symonds Street. The project would bring most of the city centre within a short walk of a station and increase
828-544: A limited number of buses linking Auckland's suburbs and city centre after midnight on Friday and Saturday nights only, with Northern Express services on the Northern Busway on the North Shore running half-hourly until 3:00 a.m. Services are contracted by Auckland Transport (AT) and operated by a number of private companies, including: AT began rebranding bus services to AT Metro in 2014–2015 to create
920-511: A loop connecting with Newmarket as part of a major rapid transit scheme proposed by Dove-Myer Robinson , mayor of Auckland City at the time. Two main stations were proposed: one downtown in the vicinity of the Queen Street / Shortland Street intersection, and a second midtown between Queen St and Mayoral Drive, about halfway between Aotea Square and Albert Park. A third city station was to be built at Karangahape Rd, but this would have been
1012-474: A period of two years with several intersections along the street being closed for up to 18 months. The Department of Corrections also expressed concern that grade-separating the Normanby Road level crossing (as part of the cut and cover works at the southern end of the project) would cut off access to Mount Eden Prisons . On 7 April 2015, two construction consortia were awarded the contracts to start
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#17327905881701104-399: A revised business case, requested by the government. In July 2012, as part of the works around designating the route, Auckland Council released footprints for four stations. This included designation space for a not previously considered station on the current Western Line, just west of Dominion Road. This station would serve as an interchange station for passengers wanting to travel east in
1196-484: A similar timeframe. AT's new electric train fleet was manufactured with the new livery. Liveries differ depending on the service, with rapid transit services ( Northern Express bus and rail) in AT Blue and AT Silver accented in yellow highlights; specialty bus services ( Link and Airporter) in custom, distinguishable colours; and other bus services in AT Blue and AT Silver. These livery colours are being retrained as
1288-468: A single identity for all bus services, with some exceptions like the Link buses which retained their red, green and orange colours. In 2023, AT began decommissioning the AT Metro brand, replacing it with the refreshed AT brand identity. The livery colours are being retrained. There are five Link services; all accept fare payment by AT HOP card or cash and all run from early morning to late evening, 7 days of
1380-584: A stop on the western line only. The plan was undermined by Council staff, criticised by academics and opposed by the New Zealand Town Planning Institute, before finally being rejected in 1976 by the Muldoon National government, which considered it to be too costly. An alternative plan was put forward by Auckland City Council planners in 1979, involving an overhead railway from the then Beach Road railway station to
1472-481: Is assumed for the benefit calculation. In this regard, Council experts have highlighted that NZ calculation methods use a 30-year cut-off (i.e. for evaluation purposes, the tunnel provides no benefit after 30 years, even though much of Auckland's earlier rail and road infrastructure already serves for much longer than that). In comparison, if using evaluation periods of 50 years (used in Australia), or 60 years (used in
1564-488: Is closed until 2024 for City Rail Link construction. Pukekohe station is closed for redevelopment until 2024. Auckland has two long-distance passenger train services. The first is the Northern Explorer to Wellington, operated by KiwiRail Scenic Journeys , which runs southbound on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and northbound Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The service is mainly tourist-oriented. The second
1656-690: Is expected that 2 million tonnes of spoil will be dug out from 2020 and it has been proposed to use it to double the single track section of the North Island Main Trunk line across Whangamarino wetland . Some landowners around Albert Street, including the Ministry of Justice which owns and operates the Auckland District Court on Albert Street, expressed concern that construction of the cut and cover tunnel would disrupt foot and vehicular traffic along Albert Street over
1748-528: Is in downtown Auckland on Quay Street , between Princes Wharf and the container port, directly opposite Waitematā railway station . City Rail Link The City Rail Link ( CRL ) is a rail project currently under construction in Auckland , New Zealand. The project consists of a 3.5 km (2.2 mi) long double-track rail tunnel underneath Auckland's city centre, between Waitematā (Britomart) and Maungawhau (Mount Eden) railway stations. Two new underground stations will be constructed to serve
1840-405: Is no longer operated since November 2023 as part of a West Auckland network change. Mahu City Express has run a commuter bus from Snells Beach to Parnell since October 2015. It runs twice a day, Monday to Friday, taking about an hour for the 57 km (35 mi) from Warkworth to Victoria Park, with stops at Smales Farm and Akoranga. Since 1 March 2021 the first electric luxury coach in
1932-534: Is the Te Huia regional service, which runs one morning and one afternoon service each way between Hamilton and Auckland via The Base and Huntly. This service was extended from its initial northern termini of Papakura railway station to Puhinui railway station and The Strand Station in January 2022. A number of upgrades and extensions to the rail network have been proposed, some for several decades: In 2020,
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#17327905881702024-404: Is the city's main transport hub . Until the 1950s, Auckland was well served by public transport and had high levels of ridership. However, the dismantling of an extensive tram system in the 1950s, the decision by Stan Goosman to not electrify Auckland's rail network, and a focus of transport investment into a motorway system led to the collapse in both mode share and total trips. By
2116-508: Is upgrading them to reduce their emissions. There are plans to commission five new electric and hybrid-electric ferries, with the first two expected to arrive in 2024. Around 7 million ferry trips per year were made in Auckland in prior to COVID-19 . Yearly patronage decreased to 3 million in 2021, due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on public transport . Most ferry routes start from Downtown Auckland and have no intermediate stops. The ferry operators are: The Auckland Ferry Terminal
2208-768: The Khyber Pass Road /Newton Rd intersection and the New North Rd/Mt Eden Rd intersection), at an estimated cost range of $ 1 billion to $ 1.5 billion. In May 2011 the Government noted that after reviewing an initial business case for the project, it was unconvinced of the economic benefits of the tunnel. Minister of Transport Steven Joyce noted that he would not stand in the way of Auckland continuing planning and route designation work – if Auckland paid for it. In June 2011 Auckland Council voted to approve $ 2 million for planning and route protection for
2300-648: The Mount Eden railway station to central Auckland as part of the City Rail Link. The TBM was named after Māori leader Dame Whina Cooper . On 14 September 2022 the TBM Dame Whina Cooper broke through into the station box of Te Waihorotiu Station, completing the second of the two tunnels needed for the project. Tracklaying was then commenced by Martinus Rail , who use battery-electric locomotives based at Quay Park junction. In 2023, it
2392-552: The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (NZGB) for recognition. In August 2022, the Board returned the following verdicts: that the unofficial name 'Britomart' be altered to a new official name, 'Waitematā'; that the suggestion of 'Te Wai Horotiu' be accepted, and altered to 'Te Waihorotiu' in keeping with national and te reo Māori orthographic standards; that the suggestion of 'Karanga
2484-566: The Newmarket Line and CRL, doubling back upon itself as far as Ōtāhuhu station . The Onehunga Line ceases to run into the city, instead heading west from Newmarket as a crosstown line. The 'Onehunga and Western Line' will initially terminate at Maungawhau/Mt Eden station , before being extended to Henderson at an undisclosed future date. A Southern Express service to Pukekohe via the Eastern line may also operate. This operating pattern
2576-598: The Wynyard Quarter in the Auckland CBD. The proposed light rail network will integrate with current train and bus hubs as well as the City Rail Link's stations and connections. Transport Minister Michael Wood also added that the Government would decide on plans to establish a second harbour crossing at Waitematā Harbour in 2023. Buses provide for around 70% of public transport trips in Auckland. Bus services generally run from around 6am to midnight, with
2668-574: The cut-and-cover method, 15 metres (49 ft) deep under Albert Street. As originally planned, it will be 300 metres (980 ft) long and run between Victoria Street and Wellesley Street. This station will be 32 metres (105 ft) underground. Original plans were for platforms 150 metres (490 ft) long. There will be an entrance on Mercury Lane, with early plans making provision for an entrance that would be added later on Beresford Square. Assessments of passenger numbers in 2018 indicated that longer trains and platforms would be needed earlier, and
2760-618: The "low hundreds of millions" and would prevent a costly future two-year closure if the platform lengthening retrofitting work was carried out after the CRL was opened. In May 2022, the stations were gifted names by the CRL Mana Whenua Forum. These reflected the area's Māori history: Waitematā for Britomart, Te Wai Horotiu for Aotea, Karanga a Hape for Karangahape, and Maungawhau for Mt. Eden. Together with Auckland Transport, City Rail Link Ltd submitted these suggested names to
2852-424: The 'Morningside Tunnel' or the 'Morningside Deviation', after the proposed southern portal location – would cost approximately £1 million, with another £1 million required for the electrification of the network. He expressed doubts that the tunnel would ever pay purely from a rail point of view, though he acknowledged that there might be other benefits and wider aspects to take into account. The 1970s plans envisaged
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2944-556: The 10-year anniversary of the opening of the Britomart Transport Centre , it was announced that Auckland Council and the new owners of the Downtown Shopping Centre had agreed to discuss building a section of tunnel under the mall during a redevelopment planned for 2016–17. The section would be up to 100 metres long. On 1 August 2014, Auckland Transport announced a significant design change to
3036-457: The 1990s and early 2000s, public transport returned to the spotlight, with growing agreement of the "need for a substantial shift to public transport". Growing recognition that Auckland could no longer "build its way out of congestion" through more roads alone led to the first major improvements to Auckland's public transport system in half a century: Despite these improvements, the lack of investment in Auckland's public transport system throughout
3128-473: The 1990s, Auckland had experienced one of the sharpest declines in public transport patronage in the world, with only 33 trips per capita per year. Since 2000, a greater focus has been placed on improving Auckland's public transport system through a series of projects and service improvements. Major improvements include the Waitematā railway station , the Northern Busway , the upgrade and electrification of
3220-405: The 2010s, despite Auckland's population growing four-fold over the same time period. These decisions also shaped Auckland's growth patterns in the late 20th century, with the city becoming a relatively low-density dispersed urban area with a population highly dependent on private vehicles for their travel needs. By the late 1990s ongoing population growth and high levels of car use were leading to
3312-408: The 2013 census, around 8% of journeys to work were by public transport Per-capita patronage in 2018 of around 60 boardings was higher than most American cities, but lower than Wellington, Brisbane and Perth, and well below Sydney, Melbourne and most large Canadian cities. Auckland's rapid population growth means that improving the city's public transport system is a priority for Auckland Council and
3404-538: The AT Metro brand, replacing it with the refreshed AT brand identity on all new electric buses, wayfinding signage and advertising. Public transport in Auckland Public transport in Auckland , the largest metropolitan area of New Zealand, consists of three modes : bus , train and ferry . Services are coordinated by Auckland Transport (AT) under the AT and AT Metro brands. Waitematā railway station
3496-488: The AT Metro branding is being replaced with the new AT branding. AT Metro replaced the MAXX brand, introduced by the former Auckland Regional Transport Authority . The MAXX brand was not widely recognised as bus operators did not update their fleets to the new livery. Auckland Transport announced in July 2012 that the 'weak' MAXX brand would be phased out, in favour of the agency's new AT branding. In 2023, AT began phasing-out
3588-637: The Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), valued at NZ$ 28 billion ($ 4.6 billion more than previously planned), of which $ 9.1 billion is for additional public transport projects, including: the completion of the City Rail Link ; the construction of the Eastern Busway , which will run from Panmure to Botany ; Northern Busway extension to Albany ; the extension of the railway electrification to Pukekohe;
3680-699: The Board's recommendations. Britomart was also changed, to officially become Waitematā railway station. Breaking with the Board's recommendation, the Minister made the decision for the Mount Eden station to be called 'Maungawhau' only, not to have a dual name of 'Maungawhau / Mount Eden' as the board suggested. One of the most contentious aspects of the CRL is whether it is economically sensible to build it. The results vary widely depending on whether certain ancillary projects are included, whether one assumes economic benefits outside purely transport effects (such as increased land value) and depending on what length of time
3772-534: The Britomart bus station (today, site of Waitematā railway station). Auckland Mayor Sir Dove-Myer Robinson noted the central government had just spent $ 33 million for new Wellington suburban trains (the EM class Ganz-Mavag units ) and the overhead railway scheme would "cost considerably less while providing a far greater potential." The Auckland Regional Authority supported the plan, although wanted to see more work done on
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3864-699: The City Rail Link is expected to be completed in late 2025, with passenger services operating from 2026. In mid January 2024, Minister of Transport Simeon Brown confirmed that the National-led coalition government would continue work on the City Rail Link despite its policy of discontinuing the Auckland Light Rail project. In early November 2024, Transport Minister Brown and Deputy Mayor of Auckland Desley Simpson announced that Auckland's passenger rail network would be shut down between 25 December and 26 January to facilitate upgrades ahead of
3956-417: The City Rail Link's completion. Brown and Simpson also confirmed that there would be a total of 96 days in Auckland without an operational train service over the next 13 months, with closures occurring during holidays, weekends and evenings. The City Rail Link was constructed using both cut-and-cover and tunnel boring machine (TBM) methods depending on the location of construction. The ground through which
4048-600: The Devonport route from 1988. Fullers Corporation was mainly operating cruises and, in 1987, when they introduced Supercat III, they were refused a licence to compete on Waiheke commuter trips. The Hudsons bought Fullers from its 1988 receivership and formed Fullers Group Ltd in 1994 and Stagecoach took a majority holding in 1998. In 2009, Souter Holdings purchased Fullers Group and also 360 Discovery Cruises. In 2022, Auckland Transport (AT) purchased four diesel ferries that were in dire need of repair from Fullers, and
4140-437: The New Zealand Government. Major improvements planned or underway include the City Rail Link , construction of the Eastern Busway between Panmure and Botany , and the proposed City Centre–Māngere Line , a light rail line between the city centre and Auckland Airport , which was cancelled by the coalition government in 2024. Horse-drawn trams operated in Auckland from 1884. The Auckland Electric Tram Company's system
4232-676: The Newmarket direction, in case the tunnel was built without an "Eastern Link" at the southern end that would allow trains exiting it to turn east. The station was later dropped by Auckland Transport and the "Eastern Link" retained in the route protection documents. In June 2013, the central government announced its support for the project, albeit with a later construction start date of 2020 rather than 2015. The government stated it would consider an earlier start date if Auckland's CBD employment and rail patronage growth hit thresholds faster than projected rates of growth. On 8 July 2013, following
4324-591: The UK), the total project benefits for the city rail link have been estimated as up to 6 times higher than with the 30-year time frame. The "City Centre Future Access Study" (CCFAS) was prepared by Auckland Transport and released in December 2012. The CCFAS analysed a number of different ways of improving access to Auckland's city centre and concluded that the CRL was essential, noting that bus-only investment will provide for short-term benefits but in some cases will be 'worse than doing nothing' for private vehicle travel times in
4416-411: The busway from Pakuranga to Botany being completed by 2025. A new Botany station is due to be completed by 2026. Further extensions to Auckland Airport via Manukau City are being explored, although no decisions on this extension have been made public. Other planned busways include the Northwestern Busway between Westgate and the city centre (possibly to be built as light-rail instead of a busway ) and
4508-408: The capacity of Auckland's rail network when the rail link opens, the main benefit posed by the project. In September 2016, the government formally confirmed its intention to fund its proposed share of 50% of the City Rail Link. The cost of the City Rail Link was then re-estimated to be between $ 2.8 and $ 3.4 billion, subject to tenders for remaining contracts. In mid-April 2019, it was revealed that
4600-480: The city centre : Te Waihorotiu near Aotea Square and Karanga-a-Hape near Karangahape Road . Waitematā will be converted from a terminus station into a through station, and Mount Eden station will be replaced by Maungawhau station, a new station with four platforms to serve as an interchange between the new CRL line and the existing Western Line . The current project is an adapted version of previous proposals to improve rail access to Auckland's city centre with
4692-402: The city centre. Brown also strongly supported the tunnel, and further, a rail connection to Auckland Airport , as part of a package of measures to double public transport patronage within 15 years. New Zealand's transport minister in 2010, Steven Joyce , warned Aucklanders not to engage in wishful thinking. The Minister's comments regarding the City Rail Link (and other rail investment), set in
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#17327905881704784-589: The context of the government's focus on delivering Roads of National Significance , has been considered politically risky – going against widespread opinion in Auckland that was in favour of better public transport. After ongoing and sustained lobbying by Brown to get central government support, the nickname "Len's loop" developed. In March 2010, KiwiRail/ARTA selected a preferred route with three stations: "Aotea" (beneath Albert St between Victoria Street and Wellesley St), "K Road" (beneath Pitt St adjacent to Karangahape Rd) and "Newton" (beneath upper Symonds St between
4876-504: The cost of the project had risen by more than $ 1 billion to $ 4.419 billion. In 2023, CRL announced the cost of the project was now estimated to be $ 5.493bn. In February 2012, Auckland Council published the following proposed project timeline for the City Rail Link: This timeline will not be adhered to, as completion was rescheduled to 2024. CRL Chief Executive, Dr Sean Sweeney stated on the CRL website in late 2021 that
4968-479: The country has been on the route. It uses a 40-seat Yutong TCe12 , bought with the aid of a $ 352,500 EECA grant. Bus 995 runs hourly, linking Warkworth to Hibiscus Coast busway station, with connection to the Northern Express, taking a bit over an hour to Auckland. Waiuku 's bus 395 links it to Papakura railway station twice a day. Long-distance bus operator InterCity links Auckland with all
5060-534: The cut and cover tunnels under and along Albert St from Customs St to Wyndham St. The work started in October 2015 with the relocation of a major stormwater line in Albert St between Swanson and Wellesley Sts. Construction of these sections of the city rail link tunnels will coincide with Precinct Properties redevelopment of the Downtown Shopping Centre site, due to open by mid-2019. The Downtown Shopping Centre
5152-521: The east–west junctions, meaning that rail lines would not need to cross each other. The Mount Eden CRL platforms would now be built in an open-air trench, similar to that at New Lynn station . On 27 January 2016, Prime Minister John Key announced in a speech to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce that central government funding for main works construction of the CRL had been confirmed and this would allow Auckland Council to start to construct
5244-439: The effects of Covid are "highly likely (to mean) there will be significant consequences for the project in terms of cost and completion" and these would become clearer late 2022 or early 2023. In 2023, the Minister of Transport, Michael Wood , said the construction by CRL should be finished by November 2025, but the project is then handed over to Auckland Transport and KiwiRail which has CRL-related work to complete. As of 2023,
5336-473: The first construction phase of the city rail link. Construction of the early works package between Britomart and Wyndham Street started in October 2015. The Downer joint venture ( Downer NZ and Soletanche Bachy) was chosen to design the rail link work through and under Waitematā Station and Queen St to Precinct Properties' Downtown Shopping Centre site, and construction started in early 2016. The Connectus consortium ( McConnell Dowell and Hawkins) will construct
5428-430: The first proposals dating back to the 1920s. The increase in rail patronage in Auckland during the early 21st century, particularly after the opening of Britomart Transport Centre in 2003, led to renewed interest in the scheme. The 2012 Auckland Spatial Plan highlighted the CRL as the most important transport investment for Auckland and the project has enjoyed strong public support. Its planning and funding have also been
5520-486: The first scheduled ferry in 1865, Auckland & North Shore Steam Ferry Co in 1869, Devonport Steam Ferry Company in 1885, a vehicle ferry in 1911 and North Shore Ferries in 1959. In 1981 George and Douglas Hudson bought North Shore Ferries and Waiheke Shipping Co. In 1984 they founded Gulf Ferries, and their first catamaran , the $ 3m Quickcat, cut the Waiheke ferry time from 75 minutes to 40, with Fullers putting Kea on
5612-460: The government announced funding for electrification of the railway line from Papakura to Pukekohe, new railway stations at Drury, a third main line and improvements to the Wiri – Quay Park corridor. In 2022, AT announced 23 new electric commuter trains would be added to its fleet, taking it to 95 in total. [REDACTED] The first official ferry started in 1854, the first steam ferry in 1860,
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#17327905881705704-486: The inner city, while bus lanes are also planned on Remuera Road and St Johns Road to connect the city with the Eastern Bays suburbs. The Northern Busway provides complete separation for buses from general traffic between Akoranga busway station (near Takapuna) and Albany busway station . In the near future, a new station will be built between Albany and Constellation busway station called Rosedale. It will serve
5796-467: The latter part of the 20th century means the city still has much lower levels of ridership than other major cities in Canada and Australia. Auckland's ongoing strong population growth and constrained geography means that Auckland's transport plans now have a strong focus on further improving the quality and attractiveness of public transport. Further improvements are to be realised in the years to 2028 under
5888-556: The longer term. In July 2013, the Transport Agency's board agreed that transport projects were to be assessed for a 40-year evaluation period, but also reduced the discount rate from 8% to 6%. The key benefits of the City Rail Link are intended to be: A study conducted in 2018, suggests that the City Rail Link will improve the accessibility to economic opportunities for people in the more deprived regions of south, east and west Auckland. An estimated cost of $ 2.86 billion
5980-509: The main centres in the North Island , also operating the budget-orientated SKIP Bus services. Skip buses were suspended from 25 March 2020. Until 18 August 1996 InterCity services operated from Auckland railway station. Since then they have run from SkyCity . SkyCity wants the bus station to move and it has been criticised for diesel fumes and poor toilets. However, InterCity rejected a move to Manukau and, in 2020, plans to move back to
6072-412: The main works from 2018, with central funds guaranteed to flow from 2020. Commentary at the time reflected an opinion that this was a belated agreement to central government funding of the project by the ruling National Party , while the main opposition parliamentary parties ( Labour Party , Greens and NZ First ) had all been promising immediate construction timetables which were more closely aligned to
6164-515: The nearby Industrial Area. In the long-term plans remain to extend the busway to Hibiscus Coast busway station , and Orewa . The Eastern Busway (AMETI) is currently being constructed to connect Botany and Panmure with a separated busway along Ti Rakau Drive, onto Pakuranga Road and Lagoon Drive. Pre-construction began in late 2018, with the removal of houses along Pakuranga Road due to be complete by April 2019. Stage one connecting Panmure and Pakuranga opened in 2021, with continued construction of
6256-504: The number of people living within a 30-minute train trip of the city centre by around 370,000. The decision to electrify Auckland's rail network brought the tunnel back into focus as the key next step for developing Auckland's rail network. Estimates for the project's cost were around NZ$ 1.5 billion (or up to $ 2.4 billion according to other estimates), taking 12–16 years to plan and build. On 5 March 2008, Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) announced preliminary planning for
6348-545: The old railway station were dropped. There are a total of 15 routes as part of the Night Bus and Northern Express bus services which operate on Friday and Saturday nights between the hours of 00:00 and 03:30 . Most routes depart the city centre on an hourly basis although the Northern Express bus route NX1 is more frequent. The night bus services were paused during COVID but returned on 2 December 2021 when AT's Group Manager Metro Services Stacey van der Putten noted that AT
6440-434: The opening of Waitematā railway station , significant improvements have been made to urban rail services. These include: These improvements have led to rapid growth in rail ridership, from a low of 1 million annual boardings in 1994 to over 20 million in 2017. Increasing train frequencies to meet further growth is not possible because of the "dead end" at Waitematā railway station which means all trains entering and exiting
6532-635: The owners of Westfield Downtown (later rebranded as Downtown Shopping Centre ) to allow the tunnel route to thread through the foundations of a proposed redevelopment of the site. In 2009 and 2010, the discussion on the future tunnel gained much more prominence, with both candidates for the Mayoralty of the new Auckland Council , John Banks and Len Brown , making the tunnel part of their election platforms. Banks noted that it attracted cost-benefit returns much higher than many similar-sized roading projects, and would provide much enhanced, integrated access to
6624-411: The plans of the council. On 30 June 2017, Finance Minister Steven Joyce and Transport Minister Simon Bridges signed agreements with Auckland Mayor Phil Goff that established City Rail Link Limited (CRLL). Effective 1 July 2017, the company assumed responsibility for delivering the City Rail Link. Mr Joyce said that it was crucial that there be a single joint entity running the project and that CRLL
6716-450: The project, dropping the underground Newton Station in favour of a significant upgrade to Mount Eden station. This change would save construction costs of $ 124 million, require fewer properties to be bought by Auckland Transport and in the long term save operational costs, with total savings being over $ 150 million. In addition, the change would allow Mount Eden station to be connected to the CRL, which previously bypassed it, and would separate
6808-470: The rail network and the introduction of integrated ticketing through the AT HOP Card . These efforts have led to sustained growth in patronage, particularly on the rail network. Between June 2005 and November 2017 total patronage increased from 51.3 million boardings per annum to 90.9 million. Despite those strong gains, the overall share of travel in Auckland by public transport is still quite low. At
6900-425: The recognition that traffic congestion was one of Auckland's biggest problems. It has been claimed that the city's public transport decline resulted from, "privatisation, a poor regulatory environment and a funding system that favours roads". On the other hand, NZ Bus claim that increasing passengers and cost control began with privatisation in 1991. As concerns over urban sprawl and traffic congestion grew in
6992-525: The redeveloped Downtown Shopping Centre and into Waitematā. The public got a look inside the tunnels in November 2019. In 2023, the government confirmed a date of 2025 for construction. At this point the project is handed over to Auckland Transport and it will be up to Auckland Transport and KiwiRail to announce when their CRL-related work will be finished. The line was mainly bored through East Coast Bays Formation of sandstones and siltstones . It
7084-488: The relocation of stormwater infrastructure and tunnelling in the vicinity of the Commercial Bay redevelopment, began in 2016. The City Rail Link is scheduled for completion in 2026. Serious planning schemes occurred as early as the 1920s. The tunnel was initially estimated at 1.75 miles (2.82 km) length and at £0.6 million. In 1936, Dan Sullivan the Minister of Railways argued that the scheme – then known as
7176-475: The service ceased due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Auckland has a growing number of bus lanes , some of which operate at peak times only and others 24 hours a day. These lanes are for buses and two-wheeled vehicles only and are intended to reduce congestion and shorten travel times. All are sign-posted and marked on the road surface. The Central Connector bus lane project improved links between Newmarket and
7268-533: The station need to use the same two tracks. The City Rail Link project, due to be opened in 2024 is a tunnel between Waitematā station and Maungawhau railway station designed to address these constraints, provide greater route flexibility across the entire network, and create a more direct route for Western Line services. This project will convert the system from a commuter rail network to an S-Train network, providing metro-like frequencies during peak. There are four commuter rail lines: Maungawhau station
7360-519: The subject of controversy. In June 2013, the central government announced its support for the project with a construction commencement date of 2020, four years later than Auckland Council 's preferred start date of 2016. Prime Minister John Key announced in January 2016 that central government funding for the project had been confirmed, allowing Auckland Council to start construction of the main works from 2018, with central funds guaranteed to flow from 2020. Preliminary stages of construction, including
7452-456: The trains are capable of having extra cars added in groups of three, the CRL station platforms, as originally specified, would not be long enough to accommodate nine-car trains. The proposed new capacity is 54,000 passengers per hour with the station platforms to be made longer so they can take the longer trains, and for an entry to be built at Beresford Square to complement Karanga a Hape station 's Mercury Lane entrance. The extra cost could run to
7544-423: The tunnel, with Auckland Transport , rather than KiwiRail, undertaking the process. In March 2012, Auckland Council decided to bring forward spending from the 2012–2013 budget, in order to continue progress protecting the eventual route. $ 6.3 million was spent on work including geotechnical surveys, utility and building assessments, contaminated site reports and rail operations modelling and $ 1.7m towards providing
7636-613: The tunnels were built varies between rock and soft soil, and with a variation in depth to natural ground level of between 40 metres and 0 metres. Cut and cover construction occurred around the existing Mount Eden railway station and in the suburb of Eden Terrace , forming the junction of the City Rail Link to the North Auckland Line . North of the junction, twin bored tunnels then extend as far as Mayoral Drive. Another section of cut and cover tunnel then extends north underneath Albert Street, before turning east to head underneath
7728-592: The vicinity of this station began. This first stage of three phases of demolition is expected to be completed in March 2020. While the train network for the period following the completion of the CRL has not been officially confirmed, Auckland Transport has released a preliminary plan. The plan proposes that the Western and Eastern Lines be connected through the CRL, and the Southern Line loops anticlockwise around
7820-524: The week. The AirportLink bus provides a connection to Puhinui railway station where Southern Line or Eastern Line services connect from Waitematā in downtown Auckland. It also serves Manukau railway station to provide connections to the east. Bus 38 connects the Airport to Māngere and Onehunga . The SkyDrive bus provides a direct bus connection between Auckland Airport and Auckland CBD. Previously, SkyBus provided direct bus services, however
7912-555: Was "bringing back a wide range of our 'Night Buses' services this weekend to help support our city's hospitality sector and to make it easier for town-goers and hospitality workers alike to get home safely and affordably in the early hours." The following table shows the 20 busiest bus routes in Auckland by boardings in 2023. Auckland's urban train services are operated under the AT brand by Auckland One Rail . Trains and stations are owned by Auckland Transport , while tracks and other rail infrastructure are owned by KiwiRail . Since
8004-481: Was closed on 28 May 2016 and by 23 November had been demolished. It will be replaced with a 36-storey skyscraper which will include a new shopping centre in the lower levels. Auckland Council and proprietors Precinct Properties struck a deal to include tunnels for the City Rail Link directly underneath the premises. In early December 2020, Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff unveiled a massive tunnel boring machine that would be used to drill two 1.6 km long tunnels from
8096-409: Was less than 500,000. Auckland's extensive tram network was removed in the 1950s, with the last line closing in late 1956. Although a series of ambitious rail schemes were proposed between the 1940s and 1970s, the focus of transport improvements in Auckland shifted to developing an extensive motorway system. Passionate advocacy from long-time Mayor of Auckland City Council Dove-Myer Robinson for
8188-476: Was officially opened on 17 November 1902. The Electric Tram Company started as a private company before being acquired by Auckland City Council. The tram network enabled and shaped much of Auckland's growth throughout the early 20th century. Auckland's public transport system was very well utilised, with usage peaking at over 120 million boardings during the Second World War, when Auckland's population
8280-517: Was often quoted for the project, but this cost was inflated out to the year of construction. The cost of the project in 2010 was $ 2.311 billion. That price also included not only the tunnel link with three stations (a deep-level Newton station was later dropped), but additional trains, duplication of the Onehunga Branch to two tracks and other small improvements to Auckland's rail network. These additional items are intended to further increase
8372-422: Was owned jointly by central and local government. Budget 2017 allocated $ 436 million to the City Rail Link project. As planned, the CRL's underground rail lines will have a capacity of 36,000 passengers per hour. That figure was expected to be reached in 2045. In July 2018, revised projections by City Rail Link Ltd (CRLL) showed the 36,000 capacity will be reached by 2035 – just 10 years after it opens. Although
8464-474: Was reported that the effects of COVID-19 , high inflation and staffing issues had increased the cost of the project by $ 1 billion to $ 5.493 billion. The opening of the project would also be delayed to the end of 2025 at the earliest. Following completion of the CRL, some trains will no longer terminate at Waitematā. Platforms 1 and 5 will be the through platforms, while platforms 2, 3 and 4 will remain terminating platforms. This station will be constructed by
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