Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) is set to start testing trains in the project’s tunnel overnight tonight (February 12/13) pending final checks being successfully completed.
The planned start of running test trains through the tunnel follows two significant milestones: the successful energisation of the tunnel’s overhead electric lines earlier this month, and the official handover of the new tunnels and track for train testing to KiwiRail in the early hours of this morning.
City Rail Link Ltd’s Chief Executive, Patrick Brockie, said testing trains in a ‘live’ tunnel is an exciting milestone that starts the transition of the project from construction site into a railway.
“We’ve been working towards this milestone since construction began and it’s exciting to see the project getting closer to being able to deliver the significant benefits Aucklanders can expect when it opens.”
Brockie added that tonight’s train running is the first of a comprehensive testing programme that will start with trains running slowly – with safety at the forefront.
“Safety is the absolute priority,” he said.
“New Zealand has limited experience with this phase of the project, particularly in a tunnel. We are dealing with 25 thousand volts of electricity and before the first test train drives into the tunnel, we have to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
The test train’s 3.45 kilometre journey overnight between the Maungawhau and Waitematā (Britomart) Stations will be deliberately slow – around five km/h – to allow technicians on board to complete their first round of checks underground.
Tonight marks the start of an extensive programme of train testing that will accelerate in the coming weeks and continue right up until opening.
.png){kind=small}
