Auckland Transport Alignment Project
Leading advice to Government on the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), as a cross-agency partner.
Auckland Transport Alignment Project
What you need to know
In September 2009 the Government agreed on the public policy transport objectives for the metro rail transport system in Auckland and Wellington. Since then, the Government has funded a number of metro rail projects in both cities, which has significantly increased the number of passengers on metro rail services.
Metro rail provides rapid, mass transit to and from the city centres, providing access to jobs, education and social opportunities. It helps reduce congestion on roads and supports productivity in our cities. It also supports more sustainable urban development, housing and growth. Metro passenger rail services share the network with freight and inter-regional services, and use electric trains, which are faster, quieter and more energy efficient with low emissions.
KiwiRail owns and operates the metro rail track network. It works with Auckland Transport and Greater Wellington Regional Council to align their metro rail priorities.
Recent Crown investments in metro rail include the Auckland City Rail Link, the New Zealand Upgrade Programme and funding through Budget 2020.
The work to date
03
Jan 2020–Present
New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP) underway
NZUP is a Crown-funded infrastructure package that includes targeted rail investment in Auckland and Wellington metro networks, to support rail and improve passenger services.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency manages the programme, which brings forward and funds significant projects, allowing them to be built sooner. The package is designed to give the construction industry certainty and confidence about future work.
NZUP funds the following Auckland metro rail projects by providing:
- NZD$315 million to complete Auckland’s third main rail line, removing a key bottleneck for freight and passenger services, and providing additional capacity for the increased services once the City Rail Link is completed.
- NZD$371 million to electrify the railway track between Papakura to Pukekohe, speeding up trips to the CBD. The addition of two new platforms at Pukekohe station will allow additional lines for future growth.
- NZD$247 million for two new railway stations in Drury, along with ‘park and ride’ facilities.
Waka Kotahi has also allocated NZD$183 million to wider Auckland network renewals, including replacing 60km of worn out track, tens of thousands of sleepers, and over 100,000 tonnes of track bed.
Wellington metro receives NZD$211 million through NZUP for:
- Wellington rail upgrades, including in the Wairarapa
- Wellington station safety improvements and
- upgrades to the Capital Connection, to make services north of the city more reliable and better able to meet growing demand.
02
2015–2024
City Rail Link Agreement in progress
In 2016, the Government and Auckland Council signed a heads of agreement, under which the Government would fund 50% of the City Rail Link (CRL), subject to the terms of the agreement being put in place.
01
Sept 2009
Metropolitan Rail Operating Model agreed
In September 2009 the Cabinet Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee agreed on the key public policy transport objectives for the metro rail transport system.