New train station opens

Photo: STEPHEN FORBES

COUNT DOWN: Ontrack project manager Peter King is looking forward to Monday.

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The first train will roll into the New Lynn's new underground station on Monday at 5.30am.

Ontrack project manager Peter King says the milestone date is
clearly marked on his calendar.

"There’s a few pre-match nerves getting ready for something like this," he says.

But we’re exactly where we need to be.

"It’s amazing when you look at what we’ve done in 18 months."

A temporary station will open on Monday with only one track, while the final double-tracked terminal is expected to be finished in August.

Mr King says it’s one of the busiest stations in Auckland and for that reason alone it is an important project. "This is very significant."

The underground station will run from New Lynn’s Memorial Drive to the Clark St/Rankin Ave intersection.

The $300 million project has involved the undergrounding of rail lines, roadworks, redevelopment of the town centre and a new train station.

KiwiRail has provided $140 million for the underground works, while Waitakere City Council has supplied $91 million.

Other organisations contributing to the project are the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, which is allocating $13.6m for the upgraded station, the NZ Transport Agency and Watercare.

- © Fairfax NZ News