A government review has found the commuter rail benefits from Auckland’s $5 billion City Rail Link (CRL) project are at risk due to underfunding of the rail network, KiwiRail’s expertise, and difficult relationships between key players.
Triggered by a brief April disruption to Wellington commuter services, Ministers had concerns about the priority placed on metro passenger rail in both cities by KiwiRail, whose business is predominantly freight.
It has called for improvements in safety systems, more investment in track upgrades and maintenance equipment, and for KiwiRail to add a director of metropolitan rail, to its executive.
A critical date in Auckland was the 2026 forecast opening of the twin downtown rail tunnels (CRL) and new inner city stations, which will double the capacity of the city’s commuter rail system.
