Auckland's City Rail Link tunnels: Public get a first look

Sunday, 17 November 2019

Take a virtual walkthrough of the City Rail Link tunnel underneath Auckland's CBD.

Thousands of members of the public got their first look inside the City Rail Link tunnels on Sunday.

For the first time, 10,000 ticket-holders had the opportunity to enter the tunnels underneath Auckland's CBD as part of the Walk the Tunnels event.

By mid-morning the tunnels were already packed with visitors, including many family groups, walking and snapping photographs throughout the 600-metre walk.

Access into the tunnels was being staggered throughout the day, with the last group of attendees entering the tunnels at 5.40pm.

The City Rail Link is being jointly funded by the Government and Auckland Council.

* Sold out! 10,000 City Rail Link open day tickets snapped up

* First glimpse of $4.4 billion underground tunnel

* City Rail Link receives $500m from government**

Entry was from steps underneath Britomart Station. Walkers travelled beneath lower Queen St, Commercial Bay and the lower end of Albert St before returning to Britomart.

City Rail Link Ltd's chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney said the demand for tickets was 'unprecedented' and 10,000 were gone in just 15 minutes.

The completion of the City Rail Link will make Auckland a two-way through-station.

The public were able to walk through 600 metres of the tunnels.

The walk the tunnels event sold out in a matter of minutes, with 10,000 people attending.

Thousands of people walked through the tunnels over the weekend.

The public preparing to enter the tunnels.

'I know a lot of people were disappointed when they missed out but 10,000 was the absolute maximum that could be managed safely.

'Although work has been suspended for the day, the tunnels still remain an active construction site,' Sweeney said.

'Ticket demand was a reassuring reminder of public support for the City Rail Link and we will be looking at other opportunities over the next five years where we can invite people for other 'sneak peeks' of a project that is re-drawing Auckland's transport map.'

Auckland's City Rail Link is a $4.4 billion project consisting of two tunnels and two new stations to connect the existing train networks and speed up journeys.

In total, it will stretch 3.45km.