The Auckland Rail Network Rebuild project comprises the upgrade of the Auckland rail network in preparation for the opening of the City Rail Link (CRL) which is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
The scope of work includes:
- removing the rail lines, sleepers and turnouts
- digging out the existing formation and ballast
- installing a new formation
- installing a new ballast
- installing new drainage formation to prevent future deterioration, and
- reinstalling the rails, sleepers and turnouts.
To deliver these upgrades, the rail network will be closed sequentially and the project delivered in sections as follows:
- Southern and Onehunga Lines - Otahuhu to Newmarket (Stage 1)
- Eastern Line (Stage 2)
- Western Line (Stage 3A)
- Southern Line - Papakura to Puhinui (Stage 3B)
- Southern Line - Pukekohe to Papakura (Stage 4)
- Southern Line - Puhinui to Otahuhu
- Manukau Branch Line, and
- Newmarket Line, though work will likely commence in this section following the opening of CRL.
Key Dates
| Oct 2022 | Project Announcement |
| Jan 2023 | Construction Commencement: Southern and Onehunga Lines |
| Mar 2023 | Construction Completion: Southern and Onehunga Lines |
| Mar 2023 | Construction Commencement: Eastern Line |
| Jan 2024 | Construction Completion: Eastern Line |
| Jan 2024 | Construction Commencement: Southern Line - Papakura to Puhinui |
| Feb 2025 | Expected Construction Completion |
Funding contributions
| Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | KiwiRail |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Oct 2022 | KiwiRail announced the project and allocated NZ$330 million to the project, with work to commence in early 2023 on the Southern Line between Ōtāhuhu and Newmarket and the Onehunga Line. |
| Jan 2023 | Construction commenced for Stage 1 of the project, with the Southern and Onehunga Lines from Otahuhu to Newmarket closed and works expecting to be completed in late March. This marked the first of the sequential closures to the rail network to deliver the rebuild. |
| Mar 2023 | Stage 1 of the project completed construction, with Southern and Onehunga Lines from Otahuhu to Newmarket reopening for use. |
| Mar 2023 | Stage 2 of the project commenced construction, with the Eastern Line closing between Britomart and Ōtāhuhu and expecting to be reopened in January 2024. |
| Oct 2023 | Stage 3A of the project commenced construction, with the Western Line closing for works and expecting to be reopened in May 2024. |
| Jan 2024 | Stage 2 of the project completed construction, with the Eastern Line reopening for use. |
| Jan 2024 | Stage 3B of the project commenced construction between Puhinui and Papakura. The work is expected to be completed by early April 2024 with some evening closures continuing until early May. Additional work will take place on the currently closed section of the Southern Line between Papakura and Pukekohe from late May until late June 2024. |
| May 2024 | Construction was completed on Stage 3B of the project. Stage 4 between Pukekohe and Papakura commenced construction, with works on this stage scheduled for completion in January 2025. |
| Aug 2024 | Auckland Transport announced that the completion of Stage 4 will be delayed from late 2024 to mid-January 2025, due to complexities with operating on a live network. |
| Jan 2025 | The New Zealand Government announced that completion of the project has been delayed from mid-January to early February 2025. |
Estimated Total Cost
(2022)
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Unconfirmed |
Location
New Zealand |
Resources
