City Rail Link (CRL)

The most significant infrastructure project ever undertaken in New Zealand

Transforming movement in Auckland City

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) is the largest transport infrastructure project ever undertaken in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is designed to double the capacity of the city’s rail network and be a powerful expression of cultural identity. When it opens, the new network will also invigorate wider Auckland, revolutionising public transportation into and through the city.

The country’s first completely underground railway line, CRL will transform the city’s existing one-way cul-de-sac rail system, into a two-way through system able to carry up to 54,000 people an hour at peak times, providing efficient and reliable public transportation for residents and visitors. The network comprises 3.45km-long, twin underground rail tunnels which run to depths of 42m below the city and four stations generating transport-oriented development (TOD) opportunities, both in the city and on the city fringe. Complementing the station designs are a series of cross-agency enabling projects and significant streetscape redevelopment projects designed by Jasmax in partnership with the CRL Mana Whenua Forum, including Te Hā Noa, Te Komititanga and Britomart public realm upgrades, extending the passenger experience into the surrounding streets.

The new network will help shape the city’s future by creating the opportunity to build a modern rapid transit system to support projected economic development and population growth. City Rail Link will dramatically reduce journey times and provide a seamless, connected public transport experience to 20 – 25 million passengers, per annum.

New Zealand’s largest public art project

CRL is also the country’s largest civic public art project. A powerful expression of indigenous cultural identity, CRL will create an authentic and globally recognisable image of the city of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland for the future. Artwork is integrated within architecture and urban design, weaving distinctive stories of place into the design of each station and the public realm. Set within the natural world, these stories, gifted by mana whenua, reflect the Te Ao Māori worldview that people and the land are one.

Alongside the recently completed upgrades to Waitematā (previously Britomart) Station designed by Jasmax, three new stations, Maungawhau (Mt Eden), Karanga a Hape (Karangahape), Te Wai Horotiu (Aotea), will open, reflecting the Māori creation story while being emblematic of their distinct identities through their respective atua (deity) in their whakapapa (genealogy).

From reference designer to owner verifier role

Engaged by Auckland Transport, Jasmax initially collaborated with international design practice Grimshaw and Alt Group as part of the Principal Technical Advisory led by engineering firm Aurecon to complete the reference design for CRL, including oversite development and design specifications. The New Zealand Government and Auckland Council subsequently established the company City Rail Link Limited (CRLL) as a Crown Entity to deliver the project, which will be handed over to KiwiRail and Auckland Transport to operate once the network completes. Jasmax is currently engaged by CRLL in the capacity of Owner Verifier to verify the construction consortium, Link Alliance, delivers the project in accordance with the reference design.

Jasmax is currently engaged in Appendix 26 enabling works at Waitematā Station and has recently completed a new design for Waitematā Station Plaza within Britomart Precinct.