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Light rail in Auckland

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Auckland light rail
Overview
Area servedAuckland, New Zealand
Transit typeLight rail
Number of lines1
Websitewww.lightrail.co.nz
Technical
System length24 km (14.9 mi)

Between 2015 and 2023, Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, considered introducing light rail lines to replace some of its most heavily used bus routes.[1] Many of these new light rail lines would have reused the routes of Auckland's former tram system.[2] Light rail systems have been proposed in Auckland throughout the late-20th and early 21st centuries following the closure of the tram system in the 1950s.[2]

In 2015, the city's transport agency Auckland Transport proposed a new light rail network - with a focus on a line between the Auckland CBD and Auckland Airport.[1] In subsequent years, various technology types and modes were proposed by local and central government - including traditional street tramways and light metro. The most recent form of the project, proposed by the Sixth Labour Government, would have seen the construction of a hybrid underground/surface route.[3] The project was cancelled by the National-led coalition government in January 2024.[4]

History

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Background

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Trams on Upper Symonds Street in 1904.

Auckland was served by a network of traditional tramcar routes with horse-drawn trams (1884–1902) and electric trams (1902–1956).[5][6] The original tram network was 72 kilometres (45 mi) in length at its fullest extent from the mid-1930s until closures began in 1949.[7]

Initial proposals

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In 2015, Steve Hawkins, Auckland Transport's Chief Engineer, said that the bus routes on Symonds Street and Fanshawe Street require as many as 150 buses each.[8] The light rail study is considering replacing the bus routes on Dominion Road, Manukau Road, Mt Eden Road, Symonds Street and Queen St with light rail routes. All of these bus routes replaced routes on Auckland's former tram network.

Stuff quoted Auckland Transport officials who described how the study was considering the option of building light rail routes with dedicated right of way versus routes where rail vehicles shared the road with other vehicles, as with a traditional streetcar system.[8] Officials projected that the maximum passenger capacity of a segregated light rail line would be 18,000 passengers per hour, while that of a street-running system would be 12,000 passengers per hour. This compares with a bus on a shared path shifting 2,500 people and a bus on a priority path's 6,000 people an hour.[6]

In 2015, then Auckland Mayor Len Brown pointed out that the city's ten-year plan did not include funding for building new light rail routes.[8]

Map
The Airport to Botany route, which will be built as a busway instead of light rail.[9] No other routes have been confirmed yet.

A line from the airport east to Botany Downs has also been proposed with a new interchange at Puhinui railway station, planned to be built in two stages, the first of which is said to be an early deliverable component of the Airport to Botany rapid transit line, planned to be operational by the end of 2020/early 2021. This encompasses a new at-grade bus/rail interchange and enhanced station. Buses will still use the existing local road (Bridge Street) to cross the railway line to/from Manukau, along with local traffic. The second phase provides a rapid transit overbridge across the railway line to provide a more direct and bespoke rapid transit connection. The new rapid transit link will integrate with the new interchange station on the overbridge. The first stage is estimated to cost $59 million to construct.[10] The line will also go through Manukau railway station before ending in Botany.[11][12]

On 26 April 2018, Mayor Phil Goff and Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced the Auckland Transport Alignment Project 2018 with $NZ28 billion of investment in Auckland transport infrastructure over ten years, including the fast-tracking of light rail to Auckland International Airport.[13][14]

On 9 May 2018, in a pre-Budget announcement, Twyford and Finance Minister Grant Robertson made the surprise announcement that work on two routes would commence immediately, with an open-tender process for funding, construction, and operation of the lines:[15]

In May 2018, it was announced that the New Zealand Superannuation Fund had expressed an interest in financing, designing, building and operating Auckland's light rail network, in a consortium with CDPQ Infra, a Canadian infrastructure company. The consortium was named NZ Infra.[15]

By early 2019, the cost of the two lines had been estimated at $6 billion, with an underground alignment through Queen St under consideration.[16]

In August 2019, Mayor Phil Goff announced that work on the light rail network might begin the following year.[17] The same month, two delivery partners for the project were shortlisted; NZ Infra and NZ Transport Agency, but it was stated that a 2020 start date would be unlikely.[18] By late 2019, two different types of technology were being considered by the New Zealand Ministry of Transport. The original proposal from the New Zealand Transport Agency consisted of surface level light rail; the other from NZ Super Fund explored fully grade-separated, driverless light metro technology, with an underground alignment through Queen St and elevated sections elsewhere, with fewer stations between the city centre and airport.[19][20]

In May 2020, it was reported that the light rail project had been placed on hold due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.[21] In June, Twyford confirmed that the Ministry of Transport was still committed to the project, but as a fully grade-separated light metro line between the city and airport;[22] stating that "Our policy is that light metro is the form of rapid transit that Auckland needs. We've decided very clearly that we need a rapid transit system that's not competing with pedestrians and other cars in the road corridor. A light metro system just like you see in London, New York, Tokyo, Paris, is actually faster and more efficient. It would allow you to get from Queen St to the Airport in 30 minutes as opposed to the 47 minutes that was projected for the old streetcar model Auckland Transport developed."

The ministry did not release the updated cost of the new light metro proposal, or any time frame for its construction. However, industry commentators estimated that the decision to use the metro mode would increase cost of the two lines from $6 billion to more than $20 billion, with a new design and construction period of 8 to 10 years beginning from 2021 at the earliest.[23]

Final proposal

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In January 2022, the New Zealand government confirmed it had endorsed a $14.6 billion "Tunnelled Light Rail" line from the city centre to the airport, featuring an underground line between the city centre and Mount Roskill, which would then emerge to the surface and continue to the airport via Māngere. In October 2022, Auckland Light Rail Limited was established to further work on the project.[24] Minister for Transport Michael Wood indicated construction could begin in 2023 and last six to seven years.[25]

Cancellation

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Following the 2023 General Election, the incoming Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, told media that his government would be cancelling the project "because it’s a white elephant”.[26]

Angers light rail network

However, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown contended that the project could be built at a fraction of the cost of previous options, citing overseas projects such as the light rail network in the French city of Angers which cost just $53 million per kilometre, against the $375 million which he described as being the current cheapest option for the route.[27]

On 29 November 2023, under their 100-day plan, the National-led government undertook to stop central government work on the Auckland Light Rail project.[28] However, Auckland Transport chief executive Dean Kimpton said light rail was still an option for the city - if above ground.[29] Nevertheless, on 14 January 2024, Simeon Brown, Minister of Transport in the new National-led coalition government, instructed Auckland Light Rail Limited to immediately cease work on the project and take the necessary steps to wind up the company. Brown described the projected $29.2 million cost of the Light Rail project as unsustainable. He also criticised the previous Labour government for spending NZ$228 million on the project over the past six years with little to show for it. Brown confirmed that the Government would continue work on the City Rail Link, which had been started the previous National Government.[4]

A Government Cabinet paper revealed that the disestablishment of the Ministry of Transport’s work on the project was estimated to cost millions of dollars spent over six months and would involve the disposal of property and land, and settling obligations, coming after an alleged $228m had already been spent on the project without a metre of track laid.[30]

The business case for the cancelled project was released in February 2024, showing that every dollar invested would have brought an economic benefit of $NZ2.40.[31]

Planned route (City Centre to Māngere line)

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See also: City Centre–Māngere Line

The City Centre-Māngere line was planned to run from Wynyard Quarter to Auckland Airport; via the Auckland CBD, University of Auckland, Kingsland railway station, Wesley, Mount Roskill, Onehunga and Māngere. There would have been be a total of 18 stops with trains running every five minutes. While the line between Wynyard Quarter and Mount Roskill would have been tunnelled, the rest of the network would have been a surface line running alongside State Highway 20.[32][33]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Barrett, Keith (23 January 2015). "Auckland to launch light rail study". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Light rail gets thumbs up from opposition". 3 News. 24 January 2015. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  3. ^ Worthington, Samantha. "Auckland to get partially tunnelled CBD to airport light rail". 1 News. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b "National-led government officially cancels Auckland Light Rail plans". Radio New Zealand. 14 January 2024. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  5. ^ Smith, Sandy (27 January 2015). "Beijing to Add Four More Metro Lines". Next City. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  6. ^ a b Thompson, Wayne (25 January 2015). "From apps to zones: Is this how we get city moving?". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  7. ^ Dearnaley, Mathew (23 January 2015). "Light rail returns to the spotlight". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Slade, Maria (23 January 2015). "Len Brown cool on light rail in Auckland transport plan". Stuff. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Notice of Requirement: Bus Rapid Transit - Botany to Rongomai Park (Auckland Transport)". Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Airport to Botany Rapid Transit: Puhinui interchange" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Southwest Gateway Airport to Botany Rapid Transit" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Airport to Botany Rapid Transit". Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Auckland Transport Alignment Project 2018". Auckland Transport. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Auckland Transport Alignment Project 2018". New Zealand Ministry of Transport/Te Manatu Waka. 9 May 2018. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  15. ^ a b c d Cooke, Henry (9 May 2018). "NZ Super Fund keen to build and operate Auckland's light rail". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Trams could run under Queen St as part of Auckland's $6 billion light rail project". New Zealand Herald. 9 February 2019. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Auckland Light Rail announcement 'soon'". Stuff.co.nz. 1 August 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Two delivery partners shortlisted for Auckland light rail". International Railway Journal. 23 August 2019. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  19. ^ "What do we know about the two light rail plans, and is the Super Fund's worth waiting for". Stuff.co.nz. 31 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  20. ^ "Twyford's dilemma: housing or a fast trip to the airport?". www.newsroom.co.nz. 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  21. ^ Coughlan, Thomas (13 May 2020). "Government puts light rail 'on hold'". stuff. Archived from the original on 20 May 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  22. ^ "'Light Metro', not 'Light Rail'". www.newsroom.co.nz. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  23. ^ "Light Rail dies but Light Metro may return". Greater Auckland. 24 June 2020. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  24. ^ Coughlan, Thomas (1 December 2022). "Auckland Light Rail company has few employees, but 54 contractors and consultants". Nwe Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Auckland light rail goes for tunnel option with harbour crossing". Stuff. 28 January 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  26. ^ Franks, Raphael (19 October 2023). "Election 2023: Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon pays visit to his Botany electorate". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  27. ^ Hollingworth, Adam (20 October 2023). "Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to scrap Light Rail, Auckland mayor suggests cheaper option". Newshub. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  28. ^ Neilson, Michael (29 November 2023). "Christopher Luxon's first Cabinet: Unveils Government's 100-day plan, pressure to rein in Winston Peters". NZ Herald. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  29. ^ Williams, Amy (30 November 2023). "Auckland Light Rail: New government taking advice after stopping work on project". RNZ. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  30. ^ Dillane, Tom (2 February 2024). "Auckland Light Rail 'disestablishment' to likely cost millions over six months - Cabinet paper release". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  31. ^ Wilson, Simon (20 February 2024). "What Christopher Luxon would say if he really was a 'straight-talking' leader". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  32. ^ Small, Zane (28 January 2022). "$14 billion Auckland light rail bid gets green light, decision on second Waitemata Harbour crossing on 2023". Newshub. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  33. ^ "Auckland light rail tunnel to run to Mt Roskill before following SH20 to the airport". Radio New Zealand. 29 January 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
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