Latest news with #DeanKimpton
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Ministers And Mayor Ride CRL Train Under Auckland
Press Release – City Rail Link The train travelled beneath the city centre through the twin 3.45 kilometre-long tunnels, starting at the new Maungawhau Station and passing through Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu underground Stations and Waitemat Station (Britomart) before … Auckland's City Rail Link (CRL) celebrated an exciting milestone today, welcoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, Government Ministers, civic leaders and project partners as passengers on the transformational railway under the central city. 'The Government and Auckland Council are joint funders of the $5.5 billion project, and we're delighted to have been able to show off the progress we are making and offer a preview of the benefits thousands of Aucklanders will enjoy when CRL opens next year,' says City Rail Link Ltd's Chief Executive, Patrick Brockie. The train travelled beneath the city centre through the twin 3.45 kilometre-long tunnels, starting at the new Maungawhau Station and passing through Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu underground Stations and Waitematā Station (Britomart) before returning to Maungawhau. Mr Brockie says with heavy construction complete, work is focused on commissioning and testing all the tunnel and station systems necessary to operate the CRL safely. 'While the finish line is getting closer, there is still a lot of work to be done before the CRL can open to passengers in 2026,' he says. The trip was organised under strict safety protocols as part of the CRL's rigorous train testing phase. Since the first test train ran in February this year, more than 1,600 individual test train journeys have already taken place inside the tunnels and Mr Brockie says there is a lot more to do to ensure the CRL and future train services are safe and reliable. 'We know from lessons learned overseas, this is our most challenging and complex phase and getting this right for Aucklanders is our utmost priority.' All project partners are working together to complete and open the CRL as quickly as possible to deliver the largest ever change to Auckland's public transport network. 'We can't wait to show more people just how transformational City Rail Link will be for Auckland's wider rail network. It allows for a rethink of our train lines giving customers more choice in how they travel and ways get to where they're going faster,' says Auckland Transport Chief Executive Dean Kimpton. 'There's still a long 'to-do list' before we can open in 2026 and together with our partners, we are working hard to be ready for day one. We're hiring front line staff, procuring new trains, updating bus routes, improving streets, paths and bus stops around our new stations and removing level crossings from our rail network,' says Dean Kimpton. KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy says KiwiRail continues to deliver significant upgrades to the metro network to support the increased services City Rail Link will bring. 'In Auckland we are carrying out work which would normally take a decade but is being delivered in three to four years. 'While working closely with our partners to ensure rigorous testing and commissioning of the City Rail Link, KiwiRail is also modernising our older rail assets so they can support significantly more trains and passengers. 'We have delivered large new infrastructure projects to support this – Pukekohe to Papakura electrification, Third Main Line and Wiri to Quay Park, Western Power Feed – and continue at pace with the final stages of our Rail Network Rebuild and constructing three new stations in southern Auckland.' CRL is New Zealand's first underground railway.
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
Auckland Transport corrects road name error on City Rail Link (CRL) map
Lambie 'Ave' as it appeared on an Auckland Transport map, alongside a Google Maps image of Lambie Drive. Photo / Auckland Transport / Google Maps Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Already a subscriber? Sign in here Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen. Lambie 'Ave' as it appeared on an Auckland Transport map, alongside a Google Maps image of Lambie Drive. Photo / Auckland Transport / Google Maps By RNZ Auckland Transport is fixing its mistake after getting the name of a major road wrong in its big reveal of its route map for the City Rail Link (CRL). The agency invited media this week to show off the new Trains and Rapid Buses map it said showed 'people can connect more easily with friends and loved ones'. Chief executive Dean Kimpton held a large version of the map up for media at Waitematā (Britomart) Station. Auckland Council's Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee chairperson and KiwiRail were in tow.
Newsroom
7 days ago
- Business
- Newsroom
The new trade-off between urban growth and a hostile environment
Analysis: "Other cities cope. We will cope, as well," says Auckland Transport chief executive Dean Kimpton. "I think our primary concern from the city planning level is where we're enabling housing, and communities to live." He's talking about redesigning Auckland, its transport and other infrastructure to balance the need for more housing with the heightening threat posed by ever-more-frequent severe weather events. The Auckland Anniversary Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle were eye-openers.
Scoop
04-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Auckland's New Train Network
More direct access to the city centre and a cross-city service are the key features of the just released 'Trains and Rapid Buses' map, that highlights the scale of public transport improvements which will come into effect when the City Rail Link opens in 2026. CRL allows for big changes in the way customers can travel across Auckland. The network has been re-shaped with Auckland Transport adding new train lines and bus connections to provide more choice and faster journeys. 'It's exciting to be able to give people a clearer idea of how their train journeys will change, as many people don't realise that City Rail link benefits all of Auckland and the whole public transport network,' says Auckland Transport Chief Executive Dean Kimpton. The re-configured network makes it easier for Aucklanders to connect to the places they love to spend time in, and more convenient access to the places where they work and learn. 'This is more than a map, it shows how people can more easily connect with friends and loved ones, attend events, shorten their commute or just explore a new part of the city by rail.' Three new central city stations – Maungawhau, Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu – alongside a better-connected Waitematā Station (Britomart), are the cornerstone of the route improvements. The new underground twin tunnels from Waitematā Station mean trains can travel straight through the middle of the city – unlocking capacity for more frequent trains and reducing travel times. 90% of all train services will pass through the underground tunnels and city centre stations on new routes replacing today's Southern, Eastern, Western and Onehunga Lines. The East-West Line (a merge of the former Eastern and Western Lines) will now connect via the CRL for a new cross-city service taking people direct from Swanson all the way to Manukau on a single journey. 'You could be shopping at LynnMall and if they don't have what you want, jump on an East-West train straight to Sylvia Park to see if they do, all within the $50 weekly fare cap' Mr Kimpton says. This will reduce travel time for future west Auckland commuters as Western Line trains coming into the city will reroute through the CRL tunnels, rather than the current route east of the city centre. For customers coming from the west, it will make journeys from Henderson to Wellesley Street around 24 minutes faster than current public transport times. 'City Rail Link will double the number of Aucklanders within a 30-minute train journey to the central city, offering an attractive alternative to driving,' says Andy Baker, Auckland Council's Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee Chair. Those currently using the Southern Line will see changes too, with the new South-City Line route looping around the city and returning south. The network map also highlights new southern stations coming soon. KiwiRail together with Auckland Transport are adding three new stations under construction now: Drury, Ngākōroa, and Paerātā. The current Onehunga Line will see an extension westward also, extending past its existing terminus at Newmarket, all the way to Henderson (initially in the off-peak times only) – forming the new Onehunga-West Line. All train lines, except Onehunga-West services, will travel via the city centre and the new City Rail Link tunnels. Trains will run more frequently – at peak times up to every four minutes through the central city, with more trains than today at stops on the Western, Eastern and Southern Lines. Along with trains, rapid buses are critical arteries of Auckland's public transport network. City Rail Link's new stations create key interchanges between Northern Busway and Northwestern rapid bus services, and AT is delivering key projects – like the Wellesley Street improvements – to make connections stress-free. 'By linking an enhanced bus network that seamlessly connects to the rail services, it provides a real opportunity to shift the way people travel around our city – helping to ease pressure on motorways and main roads,' Mr Kimpton says. It's not just about the new stations and routes. Critical rail network upgrades being delivered by KiwiRail before CRL opens in 2026 will support the changes – increased train frequency and integration with the CRL infrastructure, will help enable transformation across the entire network. Notes: Auckland Transport is currently finalising these service patterns and timetables. The train operating timetable is subject to approvals. More detailed information on specific route variations and services for each line will be released soon. Please follow Auckland Transport on social media for the latest updates. When CRL opens in 2026, train line names will change to reflect journey options
Scoop
04-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Auckland's New Train Network
Press Release – Auckland Transport Three new central city stations – Maungawhau, Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu alongside a better-connected Waitemat Station (Britomart), are the cornerstone of the route improvements. More direct access to the city centre and a cross-city service are the key features of the just released 'Trains and Rapid Buses' map, that highlights the scale of public transport improvements which will come into effect when the City Rail Link opens in 2026. CRL allows for big changes in the way customers can travel across Auckland. The network has been re-shaped with Auckland Transport adding new train lines and bus connections to provide more choice and faster journeys. 'It's exciting to be able to give people a clearer idea of how their train journeys will change, as many people don't realise that City Rail link benefits all of Auckland and the whole public transport network,' says Auckland Transport Chief Executive Dean Kimpton. The re-configured network makes it easier for Aucklanders to connect to the places they love to spend time in, and more convenient access to the places where they work and learn. 'This is more than a map, it shows how people can more easily connect with friends and loved ones, attend events, shorten their commute or just explore a new part of the city by rail.' Three new central city stations – Maungawhau, Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu – alongside a better-connected Waitematā Station (Britomart), are the cornerstone of the route improvements. The new underground twin tunnels from Waitematā Station mean trains can travel straight through the middle of the city – unlocking capacity for more frequent trains and reducing travel times. 90% of all train services will pass through the underground tunnels and city centre stations on new routes replacing today's Southern, Eastern, Western and Onehunga Lines. The East-West Line (a merge of the former Eastern and Western Lines) will now connect via the CRL for a new cross-city service taking people direct from Swanson all the way to Manukau on a single journey. 'You could be shopping at LynnMall and if they don't have what you want, jump on an East-West train straight to Sylvia Park to see if they do, all within the $50 weekly fare cap' Mr Kimpton says. This will reduce travel time for future west Auckland commuters as Western Line trains coming into the city will reroute through the CRL tunnels, rather than the current route east of the city centre. For customers coming from the west, it will make journeys from Henderson to Wellesley Street around 24 minutes faster than current public transport times. 'City Rail Link will double the number of Aucklanders within a 30-minute train journey to the central city, offering an attractive alternative to driving,' says Andy Baker, Auckland Council's Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee Chair. Those currently using the Southern Line will see changes too, with the new South-City Line route looping around the city and returning south. The network map also highlights new southern stations coming soon. KiwiRail together with Auckland Transport are adding three new stations under construction now: Drury, Ngākōroa, and Paerātā. The current Onehunga Line will see an extension westward also, extending past its existing terminus at Newmarket, all the way to Henderson (initially in the off-peak times only) – forming the new Onehunga-West Line. All train lines, except Onehunga-West services, will travel via the city centre and the new City Rail Link tunnels. Trains will run more frequently – at peak times up to every four minutes through the central city, with more trains than today at stops on the Western, Eastern and Southern Lines. Along with trains, rapid buses are critical arteries of Auckland's public transport network. City Rail Link's new stations create key interchanges between Northern Busway and Northwestern rapid bus services, and AT is delivering key projects – like the Wellesley Street improvements – to make connections stress-free. 'By linking an enhanced bus network that seamlessly connects to the rail services, it provides a real opportunity to shift the way people travel around our city – helping to ease pressure on motorways and main roads,' Mr Kimpton says. It's not just about the new stations and routes. Critical rail network upgrades being delivered by KiwiRail before CRL opens in 2026 will support the changes – increased train frequency and integration with the CRL infrastructure, will help enable transformation across the entire network. Notes: Auckland Transport is currently finalising these service patterns and timetables. The train operating timetable is subject to approvals. More detailed information on specific route variations and services for each line will be released soon. Please follow Auckland Transport on social media for the latest updates. When CRL opens in 2026, train line names will change to reflect journey options
