By rosebell
New Zealand’s first underground rail network became operational yesterday.
The City Rail Link in Auckland is described as the biggest transformation of the rail network in New Zealand’s largest city for decades.
The project was officially opened by the prime minister Christopher Luxon, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, ministers, councillors and mana whenua on Friday, September 11.
The NZ$5.5bn (€2.75bn) project involved the construction of twin 3.45km-long tunnels up to 42m below the Auckland city centre and two news stations – Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu.
It employed three types of tunnelling – excavation by the 7.15m-diameter Herrenknecht TBM[https://www.tunnelsandtunnelling.com/news/tunnelling-completed-on-nzs-largest-transport-project-10007375/] Dame Whina Cooper, cut-and-cover tunnelling and SCL mined tunnelling.
The main tunnels, stations and rail systems contract was delivered by the Link Alliance of City Rail Link Ltd, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Downer NZ, Soletanche Bachy International NZ, WSP NZ, Aecom New Zealand, and Tonkin + Taylor.
City Rail Link CEO Pat Brockie said the project was one of New Zealand’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings.
“Today was a chance to reflect and recognise the thousands of people who have helped bring it to life. What Aucklanders will experience on Sunday is the result of years of engineering, construction, testing and collaboration. We are incredibly proud of the part we played and are excited to see it ready to serve Auckland for generations to come,” he said.
Brockie said CRL had not only delivered major new infrastructure but helped set new benchmarks for how infrastructure could be delivered in New Zealand.
“From sustainability and social outcomes to employment, training and social procurement, we deliberately set the bar high. CRL achieved leading Infrastructure sustainability ratings, including the highest as-built programme rating awarded in New Zealand, while creating meaningful opportunities for Māori and Pasifika businesses and people who can face barriers to employment,” he said on LinkedIn.
