Auckland city centre rail tunnel
Encyclopedia
An Auckland
, New Zealand
city centre / CBD rail tunnel (variously called 'tunnel', 'deviation', 'loop' or 'link' over the decades) has been proposed at various times during Auckland's history. All schemes, to differing degrees, propose to increase the capacity of the network, add new connection and/or train stations in the city centre or nearby suburbs, and reduce journey times for train passengers.
Recently, the name 'loop' has been changed to link, to emphasise that the proposal would benefit much of the region via unlocking new rail capacity, and to avoid it being mistaken for circular train route around the Auckland city centre
. In a substantial poll organised by the New Zealand Herald in mid 2011, the tunnel found strong favour among Aucklanders (63% in favour, despite the high price tag), and was also seen generally positive by New Zealanders outside of Auckland (48% in favour), with both scores significantly higher than the numbers of Aucklanders and other New Zealanders favouring the 'Puhoi to Wellsford' motorway project which is often contrasted with the CBD tunnel project.
Serious planning schemes occurred as early as the 1920s. The tunnel was initially estimated at 1.75 miles length and at ₤0.6 million. In the 1930s, the Minister of Railways argued that the scheme - then known as 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 from a purely rail point of view, though he acknowledged that there might be other benefits and wider aspects to take into account.
1970s Rapid Rail System
The 1970s plans envisaged the loop connecting with Newmarket
instead of Mount Eden. The plan failed because the Muldoon National
government considered it to be too costly.
2000s Rail Revival / Britomart
The Auckland Regional Council in the 2010s prepared preliminary plans for an underground railway connecting Britomart Transport Centre to the Western Line and a new station at Mt Eden
. The underground link is projected to place the inner city within a 30 minutes travel for around 370,000 people. However, due to the significant costs and difficulties associated with a project of this size, the future of the project is uncertain. Increased population density around transport corridors and sustained petrol price growth may combine to make it project more attractive in the medium term, and the decision to electrify the area network has brought the tunnel back into general discussion, while initial feasibility studies for a possible link have already been made. Current estimates for the cost are 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 ARTA revealed that it had begun preliminary planning for a 3.5 km tunnel between Britomart and Mt Eden, beneath Albert Street and including underground stations near Wellesley St and Karangahape Road
, with the Wellesley St station, 18 m under the surface, potentially being larger and seeing more passengers than Britomart (projections of up to 7,700 per peak hour).
In 2008 work on the tunnel designations was under way, and in October 2008 ONTRACK said that it had reached an agreement in principle with the owners of Westfield Downtown
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 again, with both candidates for the future Mayoralty of Auckland, John Banks and Len Brown, making the tunnel part of their election platforms. John Banks
noted that it attracted cost-benefit returns much higher than many similar-sized roading projects, and would provide much enhanced, integrated access to the city centre. Len Brown
also strongly supports 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. However, New Zealand's transport minister as of 2010, Steven Joyce
, warned Aucklanders not to engage in wishful thinking. This comment of the minister regarding the CBD tunnel and other rail investment - set in context to massive roading projects driven forward by his government - has been considered politically risky, going against widespread opinion in Auckland in favour of better public transport.
2010s Designation & Design
In March 2010 KiwiRail/ARTA selected a preferred route with three stations: "Aotea" (beneath Albert St between Victoria St and Wellesley St), "K Road" (beneath Pitt St adjacent to Karangahape Rd) and "Newton" (beneath upper Symonds St between the Khyber Pass/Newton Rd intersection and the New North Rd/Mt Eden Rd intersection). An estimated cost range of $1 billion to $1.5 billion is to be narrowed as part of a business case to be developed in association with concept design work over the rest of this year, before KiwiRail decides on seeking a notice of requirement to protect the route. In mid 2011, national government noted that it still remained unconvinced of the economic benefits of the tunnel, but the Minister of Transport 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, and in response to scepticism at national government level about the feasibility of the project, Auckland Council voted to approve $2 million for planning and route protection for the tunnel, with Auckland Transport, rather than KiwiRail, undertaking the process.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
city centre / CBD rail tunnel (variously called 'tunnel', 'deviation', 'loop' or 'link' over the decades) has been proposed at various times during Auckland's history. All schemes, to differing degrees, propose to increase the capacity of the network, add new connection and/or train stations in the city centre or nearby suburbs, and reduce journey times for train passengers.
Recently, the name 'loop' has been changed to link, to emphasise that the proposal would benefit much of the region via unlocking new rail capacity, and to avoid it being mistaken for circular train route around the Auckland city centre
Auckland CBD
The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas...
. In a substantial poll organised by the New Zealand Herald in mid 2011, the tunnel found strong favour among Aucklanders (63% in favour, despite the high price tag), and was also seen generally positive by New Zealanders outside of Auckland (48% in favour), with both scores significantly higher than the numbers of Aucklanders and other New Zealanders favouring the 'Puhoi to Wellsford' motorway project which is often contrasted with the CBD tunnel project.
Planning history
1920s Morningside DeviationSerious planning schemes occurred as early as the 1920s. The tunnel was initially estimated at 1.75 miles length and at ₤0.6 million. In the 1930s, the Minister of Railways argued that the scheme - then known as 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 from a purely rail point of view, though he acknowledged that there might be other benefits and wider aspects to take into account.
1970s Rapid Rail System
The 1970s plans envisaged the loop connecting with Newmarket
Newmarket, New Zealand
Newmarket is an Auckland suburb to the south-east of the central business district. With its high building density, especially of retail shops, it is considered New Zealand's premier retailing area, and a rival of local competitor Auckland CBD...
instead of Mount Eden. The plan failed because the Muldoon National
Third National Government of New Zealand
The Third National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. It was an economically and socially conservative government, which aimed to preserve the Keynesian economic system established by the First Labour government while also being socially conservative...
government considered it to be too costly.
2000s Rail Revival / Britomart
The Auckland Regional Council in the 2010s prepared preliminary plans for an underground railway connecting Britomart Transport Centre to the Western Line and a new station at Mt Eden
Mt Eden Train Station
Mt Eden Railway Station is a Western Line station of the local railway network in the Mount Eden suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It has an island platform, and is reached via a footbridge from Mt Eden Rd or from the level crossing between Ngahura Street and Fenton Street.- History :* 1880: Opened...
. The underground link is projected to place the inner city within a 30 minutes travel for around 370,000 people. However, due to the significant costs and difficulties associated with a project of this size, the future of the project is uncertain. Increased population density around transport corridors and sustained petrol price growth may combine to make it project more attractive in the medium term, and the decision to electrify the area network has brought the tunnel back into general discussion, while initial feasibility studies for a possible link have already been made. Current estimates for the cost are 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 ARTA revealed that it had begun preliminary planning for a 3.5 km tunnel between Britomart and Mt Eden, beneath Albert Street and including underground stations near Wellesley St and Karangahape Road
Karangahape Road
Karangahape Road is one of the main streets in the central business district of Auckland, New Zealand. The massive expansion of motorways through the nearby inner city area - and subsequent flight of residents and retail into the suburbs - turned it from one of Auckland's premier shopping streets...
, with the Wellesley St station, 18 m under the surface, potentially being larger and seeing more passengers than Britomart (projections of up to 7,700 per peak hour).
In 2008 work on the tunnel designations was under way, and in October 2008 ONTRACK said that it had reached an agreement in principle with the owners of Westfield Downtown
Westfield Downtown
Westfield Downtown is a smaller shopping centre with 12,417 m² gross lettable area in the Auckland CBD, Auckland City, New Zealand. It is situated at 11-19 Customs Street West between Lower Albert Street and the Britomart Transport 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 again, with both candidates for the future Mayoralty of Auckland, John Banks and Len Brown, making the tunnel part of their election platforms. John Banks
John Banks (New Zealand)
John Archibald Banks, CNZM QSO is a New Zealand politician. He served as Mayor of Auckland City for two terms, from 2001 to 2004, and from 2007 to 2010...
noted that it attracted cost-benefit returns much higher than many similar-sized roading projects, and would provide much enhanced, integrated access to the city centre. Len Brown
Len Brown
Len Brown is the Mayor of Auckland in New Zealand and the head of the Auckland Council. He won the 2010 Auckland mayoral election on 9 October 2010 and was sworn in as Mayor of Auckland on 1 November 2010, being the first to hold that title for the amalgamated Auckland 'Super City'...
also strongly supports 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. However, New Zealand's transport minister as of 2010, Steven Joyce
Steven Joyce
Steven Leonard Joyce is a New Zealand politician, who entered the New Zealand House of Representatives in 2008 as a member of the New Zealand National Party...
, warned Aucklanders not to engage in wishful thinking. This comment of the minister regarding the CBD tunnel and other rail investment - set in context to massive roading projects driven forward by his government - has been considered politically risky, going against widespread opinion in Auckland in favour of better public transport.
2010s Designation & Design
In March 2010 KiwiRail/ARTA selected a preferred route with three stations: "Aotea" (beneath Albert St between Victoria St and Wellesley St), "K Road" (beneath Pitt St adjacent to Karangahape Rd) and "Newton" (beneath upper Symonds St between the Khyber Pass/Newton Rd intersection and the New North Rd/Mt Eden Rd intersection). An estimated cost range of $1 billion to $1.5 billion is to be narrowed as part of a business case to be developed in association with concept design work over the rest of this year, before KiwiRail decides on seeking a notice of requirement to protect the route. In mid 2011, national government noted that it still remained unconvinced of the economic benefits of the tunnel, but the Minister of Transport 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, and in response to scepticism at national government level about the feasibility of the project, Auckland Council voted to approve $2 million for planning and route protection for the tunnel, with Auckland Transport, rather than KiwiRail, undertaking the process.