New designs released for Auckland’s rail link

New designs have been released of how Auckland’s planned CBD Rail Link will affect the city.

The designs were released as part of Auckland Transport’s Rail Link showcase, a bus set up at Queen Elizabeth II square on lower Queen Street to inform the public about the estimated $2.8 billion dollar project.

The designs reveal concept art for the two new stations near the Aotea Centre and near Karangahape Rd.

The designs also reveal the look for an upgraded Britomart, which will be converted into a through-way station, and Mt Eden station, which will sit where the tunnel and Western line meet. 

The showcase has also given Aucklanders their first look at an upgraded Albert St, which will have wider footpaths and added bus lanes, and a look at plans for a pedestrianised lower Queen St.

Auckland Transport communications manager Carol Greensmith says the showcase and new designs should give people a good idea of what the city will look like after the project is completed.

“This is a chance for people to come in and have a look at some of what the planning is, what some of the public realm spaces will look like, what some of the stations will be, where it goes.”

Carol Greensmith says the new designs will make the CBD a more attractive place to visit.

“The stations will have public realm space around them. We’re taking a lot of New Zealand and Auckland stories and building that into the structure of the station so that, when you get off at a station, you’ll know you’re in New Zealand and that you’re in Auckland.”

The showcase includes an IPad display where people can “fly” through the new stations and get a feel for what they’ll look like.

Last week Auckland Transport announced two construction consortia had been awarded the right to start the early construction phase of the project, which will be a cut and cover tunnel from Britomart up Albert Street to the Aotea Station.

Precinct Properties has also agreed to build part of the link at the same time as it constructs a new 36-story skyscraper on the site of the Downtown Shopping Centre.

The rest of the route will be a bored tunnel to Mt Eden Station for which the government has committed funding from 2020.

Construction on the project is expected to start by the end of the year.