Auckland's City Rail Link: First glimpse of $4.4 billion project's underground tunnel

Thursday, 10 October 2019

How to sink $4.4 billion underground - welcome to Auckland's City Rail Link.

An underground tunnel that could be the key to solving the city's congestion issues will briefly open to the public next month.

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

While still five years from completion, up to 10,000 people will get the chance to walk through and explore one of the unfinished tunnels on November 17 and witness the work taking place under the city.

Members of the public will get to explore an uncompleted tunnel that is part of the City Rail Link project next month.

City Rail Link Ltd chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney said it would be a rare opportunity for people to enjoy a 'brief snapshot' of the project.

The $4.4 billion project aims to speed up train journeys with twin tunnels and two new stations.

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'It's a great chance for us to say, 'thank you' to people for the support they are giving the project, and for us to show off some of the outstanding engineering behind a project that will re-shape the way Aucklanders travel,' he said.

Participants will enter the tunnel from Britomart Station and walk under Queen Street and into Albert Street covering 600m.

There will be ten entry sessions on the open day, running from 8am to 5pm. The experience will have 'low levels of lighting' and is not suitable for people who have a fear of being in confined spaces.

Free tickets for the event will be available online from November 6.