Project

City Rail Link

PROJECT STATUS
Under Delivery
City Rail Link

CityRail Link is a 3.4-kilometre extension to the existing Auckland Rail Network, connecting Britomart Station to Mt Eden Station through Auckland's West. The extension is made up of twin tunnels that will connect downtown at Waitematā Station (Britomart) with Maungawhau on the Western Line.

The scope of the project includes:

  • construction of a one-kilometre Cut and Cover Tunnel
  • construction of 2.5 kilometres of Bored tunnel
  • redevelopment of Waitemata Station and Mount Eden Station to accomodate below ground rail lines, and
  • construction of two new underground stations, Te Waihorotiu Station at a depth of 13 meters and Karanahape Station at a depth of 33 metres.

Procurement has been divided into stages, with the largest 'C3 Stations and Tunnels' package to be delivered through an Alliance Contract. Originally there were nine contracts envisioned - however, reshuffling of scopes of work has left the project with the following contracts: 

  • Contract One (C1), delivered by Downer Soletanche Bachy Joint Venture: construction of the initial sections of the CRL tunnels from Waitematā Station (Britomart) to the Downtown Shopping Centre, and refurbishment of the Chief Post Office (CPO) heritage building. Completed in October 2021.
  • Contract Two (C2), delivered by Connectus, a McConnell Dowell and Downer Joint Venture: 350 metres of trenching and tunnelling from Commercial Bay at Customs Street to Wyndham Street, relocating a stormwater main, strengthening the Ōrakei Main Sewer and improvements at street level including new street furniture, lighting, tree planting and bus bays. Completed in October 2020.
  • Contract Three (C3), delivered by Link Alliance: deliver the City Rail Link 3.45km twin tunnel underground rail line from Auckland’s Waitematā Station (Britomart) to a redeveloped Maungawhau; Design and construction of two new underground stations midtown, Te Waihorotiu Station and Karanga-a-Hape Station off Karangahape Road, and a long-term maintenance contract.
  • Contract Six (C6), delivered by March Bessac Joint Venture: replacement of the stormwater line in Mt Eden. Completed in August 2019.
  • Contract Eight (C8), delivered by KiwiRail and CRL Ltd: improvement works at Ōtāhuhu and at the Strand in Parnell. Completed October 2020.
  • Contract Nine (C9), delivered by KiwiRail, Martinus Rail and CRL Ltd: additional connections, platform widening and track modification at the eastern end of Waitematā Station (Britomart). Construction complete on all sections apart from Stage 4 to 6 "Track" Contract for track slab and track works in the vicinity of Platforms 1 and 5. Expected construction completion expected January 2024.

Key Dates

Mar 2017 Construction commences: C6 Mt Eden stormwater
Aug 2019 Construction complete: C6 Mt Eden stormwater
Oct 2020 Construction complete: C2 Lower end of Albert Street
Oct 2021 Construction complete: C1 Waitematā Station/Lower Queen Street

Funding contributions

NZ Government
Auckland Council

Procurement

Successful Tenderer: Contract One: Waitematā Station (Britomart)/Lower Queen Street: Downer Soletanche Bachy Joint Venture (DSBJV) Contract Two: Lower end of Albert Street between Customs and Wyndham Streets: Connectus – a McConnell Dowell and Downer Joint Venture Contract Three: Main Tunnel, Stations, Western Line Connection and Rail Systems: Link Alliance (Vinci Construction Grands Projects SAS, Downer, Soletanche Bachy, WSP, AECOM, Tonkin + Taylor and CRL Ltd) Contract Six: Mt Eden Stormwater Main: March Bessac Joint Venture Contract Eight: Wider network improvements: KiwiRail and CRL Ltd Contract Nine: Eastern end of Britomart Station: KiwiRail, Martinus Rail and CRL Ltd.

PROJECT HISTORY

2014 Project estimated at a total cost of NZ$3.4 billion.
May 2017 The Mana Whenua Forum gifted CRL with the four names of the stations: Maungawhau Railway Station (for Mt Eden, an existing station) Karanga-a-Hape Railway Station (for Karangahape, a new station) Te Waihorotiu Railway Station (for Aotea, a new station) Waitematā Railway Station (for Britomart, an existing station).
Jul 2017 City Rail Link established.
Apr 2019 CRL Ltd announced a revised cost envelope for the entire CRL project and named its preferred the Link Alliance bidder for C3.
Apr 2019 Total cost estimates increase to NZ$4.4 billion, an increase of NZ$1 billion from the previous estimate in 2014.
Jul 2019 CRL Ltd and the Link Alliance sign a Project Alliance Agreement (PAA).
Mar 2023 CRL Ltd submits a formal funding request to its Sponsors - the Crown and Auckland Council - reflecting revised cost of total project raising to $5.5 billion.
May 2023 The NZ 2023 Budget allocated an additional NZ$197 million (A$185 million) to deliver the City Rail Link.
Feb 2024 The installation of the second railway line, being delivered under Contract Three, has been completed by the Link Alliance. Testing of the trains inside the tunnel will be undertaken mid-year.
Estimated Total Cost
(2023)
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement | Alliance |
Location
New Zealand |
Resources
Major Contract

City Rail Link Contract Three - Main Tunnel, Stations, Western Line Connection, and Rail Systems

PROJECT STATUS
Under Delivery
City Rail Link Contract Three - Main Tunnel, Stations, Western Line Connection, and Rail Systems

The City Rail Link Stations and Tunnels package includes the construction of 3.45 kilometres of new twin tunnels from Auckland’s Waitematā Station (Britomart) to a redeveloped Maungawhau. The full scope of the Station and Tunnel work includes:

  • design and construction of a 15-metre deep station at Te Waihorotiu
  • design and construction of a 32-metre deep station Karanga-a-Hape off Karangahape Road
  • redevelopment of Mount Eden station
  • construction of 3.5 kilometres of tunnels, and
  • supporting works.

The Link Alliance, a consortium of seven companies including CRL Ltd which are delivering the D&C Contract 3, will also service a long-term maintenance contract.

Key Dates

Apr 2017 EOIs Open
Jul 2017 EOIs Close
Sep 2018 RFT Open
Apr 2019 Preferred Bidder Selection
Jul 2019 Contract Award
Sep 2019 Construction Commencement
Jul 2035 Expected Construction Completion

Procurement

Successful Tenderer: Design of the rail systems: RCR Tomlinson Opus Joint Venture (SITC Alliance). Construction of rail system & design and construction of stations, tunnels, and western connection: The Link Alliance, comprising Vinci Construction Grands Projets S.A.S, Downer NZ Ltd, Soletanche Bachy International NZ Limited, WSP Opus (NZ) Limited, AECOM New Zealand Limited and Tonkin+Taylor Limited.

PROJECT HISTORY

Apr 2017 Eight companies were approved to submit Expressions of Interest. These were: - Acciona Infrastructure New Zealand - Bam International Australia - China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) JV - CPB Contractors - Ferrovial Agroman (New Zealand) - Salini Impregilo S.p.A. - The Fletcher Construction Company, and - Vinci Construction Grands Projects S.A.S (VCGP) JV.
Jul 2017 Expressions of Interest for C3 close.
Jun 2018 Two respondents were selected to proceed to the Stations and Tunnel Request for Tender (RFT) phase. The respondents were the Link Alliance, a Downer led consortia, comprising Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Soletanche Bachy, AECOM, Tonkin & Taylor and WSP Opus; and a CPB Contractors led consortia, comprising UGL, Beca, McMillen Jacobs Associates and Jacobs.
Sep 2018 Request for Tender is released.
Oct 2018 RCR Tomlinson Opus Joint Venture (SITC Alliance) awarded the interim project alliance contract for the design of the rail systems.
Dec 2018 CRL Ltd announces the successful C3 tenderer would also undertake construction works for the C7 Rail systems contract, following RCR Tomlinson - part of the Systems Alliance (C7 consortium) going into administration. It was announced that the C7 consortium would finish design works for C7 but would not submit a tender for the construction of the C7 works, which would instead be incorporated into the C3 Main Station and Tunnels Alliance.
Apr 2019 The Link Alliance, comprising Vinci Construction Grands Projets S.A.S, Downer NZ Ltd, Soletanche Bachy International NZ Limited, WSP Opus (NZ) Limited, AECOM New Zealand Limited and Tonkin+Taylor Limited, was selected as the preferred bidder for Contract 3.
Apr 2019 CRLL announced an upwards revision of the CRL project cost envelope to NZ$4.4 billion (A$4.2 billion).
May 2019 The revised cost is endorsed by the NZ Government and Auckland Council.
Jul 2019 The Project Alliance Agreement is signed between the Link Alliance and CRL Ltd.
Sep 2019 Construction commenced on the project.
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Alliance |
Location
New Zealand |
Resources
Project website
CRL Project Website