Auckland Transport is preparing for the next major challenge facing the city’s rail network, with six level crossings between Kingsland and Mount Albert potentially needing bridges, underpasses or closure to allow more trains to run once the City Rail Link transforms services across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Public consultation is now underway on options for the western rail corridor as Auckland Transport plans for passenger growth expected to require even more frequent services from Mount Albert through Morningside and Kingsland into the city centre by the mid-2030s.
The issue is straightforward: the more frequently trains run, the more often level-crossing barriers have to come down.
Without replacing the crossings, Auckland Transport warns they could eventually restrict how many trains can operate or leave communities dealing with increasingly frequent barrier closures, longer road delays and greater safety risks.
City Rail Link changes the equation
The opening of the City Rail Link represents a fundamental change to Auckland’s rail network.
More frequent services and new connections are expected to increase the attractiveness of rail, but Auckland Transport says infrastructure surrounding the network must also keep pace.
Head of Level Crossings Tom Willetts says planning is happening now so Auckland is ready for the passenger growth expected over the coming decade.
The western line presents a particular challenge because the railway passes through established and densely populated communities.
Removing level crossings would allow additional trains to operate without requiring barrier arms to close increasingly often as cars, pedestrians and cyclists attempt to cross the tracks.
Six crossings under the microscope
Auckland Transport is seeking feedback on proposed options for six crossings between Kingsland and Mount Albert.
Possible solutions include road bridges, road underpasses, pedestrian bridges and pedestrian underpasses.
Another option at some locations is closing the crossing entirely while improving alternative connections nearby.
None comes without consequences.
Bridges and underpasses require land, engineering and significant investment, while closing crossings can change how neighbourhoods connect and potentially increase travel distances for residents and businesses.
That is why Auckland Transport says community feedback will be important before preferred options are identified.
Big decisions for local communities
Level-crossing removal can significantly reshape a neighbourhood.
A new bridge or underpass can alter traffic flows, pedestrian routes, cycling connections and access to businesses and homes.
Construction itself can also be disruptive.
Auckland Transport acknowledges there are no easy solutions because many western crossings sit within already-developed urban areas where space is limited.
Feedback from people who live, work and operate businesses near the railway will therefore feed into an investment case identifying the preferred approach and determining which projects should be prioritised.
The objective is to have the planning completed before funding becomes available rather than waiting for rail congestion to force urgent decisions.
Safety is also driving the programme
Increasing train frequency is only one reason Auckland is moving towards separating roads and footpaths from railway tracks.
Removing level crossings also eliminates points where trains directly intersect with vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.
Over the past decade, 16 Auckland rail level crossings have already been closed or replaced.
Three new pedestrian bridges have been completed during the past year at Glen Innes, Te Mahia and Takaanini stations, while remaining pedestrian crossings have received automatic safety gates.
The next major construction phase will focus on remaining road crossings in Takaanini, where new road or pedestrian bridges are expected to begin construction during the second half of 2027.
Avondale to Swanson comes next
The Kingsland-to-Mount Albert corridor is only one part of the western programme.
Investigations are continuing into crossings further west, stretching from Avondale to Swanson.
Options for those mid and outer-western locations are expected to go before the public in early 2027.
The investment case covering western rail crossing replacements will be developed over the next two years, providing government and Auckland decision-makers with a clearer picture of what needs to be built, where projects should be prioritised and how much investment will be required.
The programme is funded by Auckland Council and NZ Transport Agency, with Auckland Transport and Auckland Council delivering the work with support from KiwiRail.
Unlocking the investment already made in rail
The bigger question is how Auckland gets the maximum return from the enormous investment already made in City Rail Link.
Building the tunnel and stations is one part of creating a higher-capacity railway.
The rest of the network must be capable of handling the additional services the new infrastructure makes possible.
If level crossings prevent trains from running more frequently, they could become an increasingly significant constraint just as Aucklanders begin experiencing the benefits of CRL.
Conversely, removing them comes with substantial costs and potentially significant impacts on established communities.
That is the balancing act Auckland now faces.
City Rail Link may transform how trains move through central Tāmaki Makaurau, but unlocking its full potential will increasingly depend on what happens along the tracks beyond the new tunnels — and Auckland’s western suburbs are next in line for some major decisions.
Public feedback on the proposed inner-western crossing options is open until 28 September, with consultation available online and through community events being held throughout September.
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