City Rail Link construction

What looks to be a permanent sign guides anyone in the tunnel towards the nearest exit point

17 November 2019

A surge of people walking the tunnels, presumably after the arrival of a train at Britomart

17 November 2019

Near the turnaround point, a poster shows us underneath the Sebel Quay West Hotel

17 November 2019

At the turnaround point, the tunnel continues straight underneath Albert Street towards Aotea station

17 November 2019

Heading back the other way through the tunnel leading from Britomart Platform 5, the tunnel now curves to the right to head towards the existing city station

17 November 2019

Along this tunnel, posters displayed a snapshot of Auckland transport history with a focus on rail. This poster shows the construction of the first railway line in the North Island, now known as the Onehunga Line, in 1873

17 November 2019

Auckland's original downtown railway station sat above where Britomart is now, seen in this poster in 1909

17 November 2019

In 1923, a proposal for an underground railway similar to today's City Rail Link was proposed, although from Morningside instead of Mt Eden

17 November 2019

In 1955, a shift in transport focus towards motorways led to the demise of rail in the second half of the 20th century and the rise of the car, a trend which is now attempting to be reversed

17 November 2019

Robbie's Rapid Rail, proposed by Auckland mayor Dove-Myer Robinson in 1968, would have transformed the Auckland rail network, but was rejected by the government of the day

17 November 2019

Finally in 2003, Britomart Transport Centre opened, seen today as a key factor in the revitalisation of rail in the 21st century

17 November 2019

In 2007, electrification of the Auckland rail network was finally confirmed as going ahead

17 November 2019

2010 was the Year of Openings, with the Onehunga Line and the completion of Western Line double tracking this year. Posters were also displayed for the New Lynn trench and Newmarket which opened in the same year

17 November 2019

Finally in 2013, Auckland's first electric train arrived in New Zealand, which would enter service in April 2014

17 November 2019

After the history lessons, the tunnel carried on curving back to Britomart

17 November 2019

Approaching the false works holding up the tunnel roof during construction, close to the end of the walk

17 November 2019

A poster explains the purpose of the false works in the tunnel

17 November 2019

At the end of the walk, walkers emerge onto the platforms at Britomart

17 November 2019

Exiting the City Rail Link onto the existing Britomart platforms

17 November 2019

View of the Britomart platforms from the City Rail Link

17 November 2019

At Mt Eden, demolition has ramped up north of the station area in preparation for the City Rail Link works in the area. Here we see the former timber yard on Ruru Street

1 January 2020

A row of diggers sit waiting near Mt Eden station

1 January 2020

Mt Eden station pokes through between the piles of rubble that used to be a timber yard

1 January 2020

Across the road, more demolished buildings are evident. This entire area is being cleared to make room for the trenched approach tracks to the City Rail Link

1 January 2020