City Rail Link: First Looks and Sneak Peeks

Looking up the escalator towards Victoria Street. Above are support beams for the walls above the platforms

21 August 2026

Support beams for the walls sit above the escalators leading to Victoria Street

21 August 2026

On Platform 2, we get a look through the tunnel, looking here towards Waitematā. The steep grade down towards the existing station is very clear here

21 August 2026

AM 1236 sits on Platform 2, simulating a service that has just arrived from Waitematā

21 August 2026

Looking down the tunnel at the other end of Platform 2 towards Maungawhau. From here, the tunnel curves to run underneath Mayoral Drive. The portion of the tunnel from here to near Maungawhau was bored with a tunnel boring machine, which started at Maungawhau then was lifted out here to be trucked back for the other tunnel

21 August 2026

Down the same end of the station but on Platform 1, the curve in the tunnel is more obvious as it heads around the corner underneath Mayoral Drive

21 August 2026

Passenger information displays were set up displaying upcoming services as they would be after the CRL opens

21 August 2026

Overview of the escalators and lifts to access the platform area

21 August 2026

AM 144 was one of the units where attendees could line up to visit the cab. A queue was formed inside the train, with people leaving via the cab door

21 August 2026

One screen in the cab of AM 144 showing route information. This shows that the train is set up for an East-West Line service, with the next station being Waitematā

21 August 2026

The other screen on AM 144 was showing diagnostic data. Half of the screen was showing that all doors on both units had been opened, with other messages showing on the bottom half

21 August 2026

After exploring the cab of AM 144, we headed out to the Victoria Street entrance up these escalators

21 August 2026

A final goodbye to AM 1236 as we leave our last Sneak Peek event

21 August 2026

Looking back over the platform area as we head back up towards ground level

21 August 2026

The gate line at the Victoria Street entrance of Te Waihorotiu, with the Auckland Märklin Club again showing off their model railway

21 August 2026

The ramp up to ground level on Victoria Street, not in use for the event

21 August 2026

In the hallway leading to the lift at the Victoria Street are pieces of artwork drawn by 11-year-old children. The age group was chosen as when the drawings were done in 2024, they would be young adults when the CRL opens and be among the first to benefit

21 August 2026

A close-up view of some of the drawings in the hallway towards the lift at the Victoria Street entrance

21 August 2026

The Victoria Street entrance to Te Waihorotiu station after dark

21 August 2026

With its proximity to the Sky Tower, Te Waihorotiu station will become popular with tourists as well as locals visiting the attraction

21 August 2026

The main Te Waihorotiu station building on Wellesley Street, just after the evening's event had closed

21 August 2026