City Rail Link
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
City Rail Link firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- City Rail Link
- Legal name
- City Rail Link Limited
- Website
- https://cityraillink.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
City Rail Link industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Underground Rail Infrastructure Construction
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Rail Transportation (488210), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882)
- SIC
- Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011), Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments (4013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tunnel Construction (Road, Rail, Utility) (IMAFAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Railway Stations (Intercity & Regional) (THAIALAA)
Keywords
Where City Rail Link is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
City Rail Link business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Public Infrastructure Funding: City Rail Link is a publicly funded infrastructure project. It is not a commercial enterprise seeking revenue from customers. The project cost of $5.493 billion is funded jointly by the Crown (NZ Government) and Auckland Council on a 50/50 basis. Following completion, responsibility for operations transfers to Auckland Transport (for CRL stations) and KiwiRail (for CRL tunnels). The project generates no direct revenue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
City Rail Link product offering
Product offeringCore offering
City Rail Link (CRL) delivers a complete underground rail link comprising twin 3.45km tunnels up to 42 metres deep connecting Waitematā Station with Maungawhau Station, two new underground stations (Te Waihorotiu at 11m depth and Karanga-a-Hape at 33m depth), and the redevelopment of Waitematā Station (formerly a dead-end station, now converted to a through station) and Maungawhau Station. The $5.493 billion programme is delivered by City Rail Link Limited in partnership with the Link Alliance and built to enable nine-car electric trains, wider network improvements and increased rail capacity across Auckland's public transport system.
Product overview
City Rail Link (CRL) is New Zealand's largest transport infrastructure project, consisting of twin 3.45km underground rail tunnels connecting downtown Waitematā Station with Maungawhau Station on the Western/North Auckland Line. The project includes four stations: Te Waihorotiu (midtown, 11m deep) and Karanga-a-Hape (33m deep) as new underground stations, plus redevelopments of Waitematā Station (transformed from dead-end to through-station) and Maungawhau Station. The $5.493 billion project is funded jointly by the Crown and Auckland Council, delivered by City Rail Link Ltd and constructed by the Link Alliance. The CRL doubles the capacity of Auckland's rail network and will open in the second half of 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- City Rail Link Tunnels Twin 3.45-kilometre-long rail tunnels up to 42 metres underground connecting Waitematā Station (Britomart) with Maungawhau Station on the Western/North Auckland Line, excavated using the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named Dame Whina Cooper. Once operational, the tunnels are managed by KiwiRail and form the core of Auckland's through-running rail network.
- Te Waihorotiu Station New underground midtown station at the intersection of Wellesley and Victoria Streets, built at 11 metres depth, with twin entrances on both streets and featuring ultra-thick Matariki constellation skylights. Operated by Auckland Transport once CRL opens.
- Karanga-a-Hape Station New underground station at 33 metres depth with entrances at Mercury Lane and Beresford Square, providing direct underground access to the Karanga-a-Hape area from central Auckland's rail network. Operated by Auckland Transport once CRL opens.
- Maungawhau Station Redeveloped station on the Western/North Auckland Line, rebuilt as part of the CRL project to incorporate the new CRL line and a modern station building, forming the southern tunnel portal of the underground link.
- Waitematā Station Redeveloped downtown station transformed from a dead-end terminus (formerly known as Britomart) into a two-way through station, enabling trains to continue beyond the city centre rather than reverse direction. Operated by Auckland Transport once CRL opens.
Quantifiable outcome
- Doubles the number of Aucklanders within 30 minutes travel of the CBD
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use City Rail Link
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
City Rail Link technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
City Rail Link partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Link AlliancecoreLink Alliance is an alliance of six companies — Vinci Construction Grands Projets S.A.S., Downer NZ Ltd, Soletanche Bachy International NZ Limited, WSP Opus (NZ) Limited, AECOM New Zealand Limited, and Tonkin + Taylor Limited — along with client CRL Ltd, delivering the main stations, tunnels, and rail systems for the CRL project. The alliance model enables shared risks and rewards, with decisions made on a 'best-for-project' basis. The Link Alliance C3 contract covers the main tunnels, stations, Western Line connection, and rail systems. The Link Alliance was awarded the Australasian Rail Industry Sustainability & Environmental Excellence Award in 2023 and achieved ISC Leading As-Built ratings.
- Vinci Construction Grands Projets S.A.S.coreInternational construction company and part of the Link Alliance delivering the main CRL tunnels, stations, and rail systems. Vinci Construction is one of six companies in the Link Alliance alongside Downer NZ, Soletanche Bachy, WSP, AECOM, and Tonkin+Taylor.
- Soletanche Bachy International NZ LimitedcoreInternational underground engineering specialist and part of the Link Alliance. Also partnered with Downer NZ in a joint venture (DSBJV) for the C1 contract covering Waitematā Station/Britomart and Lower Queen Street works. Soletanche Bachy contributed specialist tunnelling and underground construction expertise.
- Downer NZ LtdcoreNew Zealand construction company and part of the Link Alliance. Also partnered with Soletanche Bachy in a joint venture (DSBJV) for C1 works at Waitematā Station and Lower Queen Street, and with McConnell Dowell in Connectus JV for C2 works on Albert Street.
- WSP Opus (NZ) LimitedcoreEngineering consultancy and design owner alliance participant in the Link Alliance. WSP contributed design expertise to the main CRL tunnels, stations, and rail systems.
- AECOM New Zealand LimitedcoreEngineering consultancy and design owner alliance participant in the Link Alliance. AECOM contributed design expertise to the main CRL tunnels, stations, and rail systems.
- Tonkin + Taylor LimitedcoreNew Zealand engineering consultancy and design owner alliance participant in the Link Alliance. Contributed geotechnical and environmental engineering expertise.
- KiwiRailcoreKiwiRail is the state-owned enterprise responsible for all rail operations in New Zealand. It has a formal role in ensuring CRL's interoperability with the wider rail network and freight services. Following construction, KiwiRail is responsible for CRL tunnels and operations. KiwiRail was engaged by CRL Ltd to provide technical and operational support services.
- Auckland Transport (AT)coreAuckland Transport is responsible for public transport in Auckland. Following construction, AT is responsible for CRL stations. AT was engaged by CRL Ltd to provide technical and operational support services. AT will announce the exact CRL opening date and operate passenger rail services.
- Auckland One RailcoreAuckland One Rail is Auckland's train operator and part of the One Client Alliance for the commissioning and testing phase of CRL. The One Client Alliance involves CRL Ltd, Auckland Transport, KiwiRail, Link Alliance, and Auckland One Rail working together to commission and test the station and rail systems.
- Mana Whenua ForumcoreEight iwi are represented on CRL's Mana Whenua Forum: Te Ākitai Waiohua, Te Kawerau a Maki, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Tamaoho, and Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei. The forum was established in 2012 and formalised through the project's legally binding consent conditions. The forum influences station designs reflecting cultural heritage, provides kaitiakitanga (guardianship) responsibilities, and gifted the station names which were formally adopted by the NZ Geographic Board.
- Connectus Joint Venture (McConnell Dowell and Downer)minorConnectus JV (McConnell Dowell and Downer) delivered Contract C2 — the northern end of Albert Street between Customs St/Commercial Bay and Wyndham St. Designers included Aurecon, Mott MacDonald, Grimshaw, Jasmax, and Arup.
- DSBJV (Downer and Soletanche Bachy Joint Venture)minorDowner NZ and Soletanche Bachy joint venture (DSBJV) delivered Contract C1 — Waitematā Station (Britomart)/Lower Queen Street and Commercial Bay works. Designers included Aurecon, Mott MacDonald, and Jasmax.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
City Rail Link competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MTR Corporation (Hong Kong): Hong Kong's railway operator and developer with deep expertise in delivering complex urban metro projects globally. Comparable as an organisation combining rail operations with infrastructure delivery — several CRL board members (e.g. Russell Black) are MTR alumni.
- Auckland Transport: Auckland Council-controlled organisation responsible for Auckland's public transport, including the rail network that CRL will feed into. Comparable as the receiving operator for CRL stations and a wider Auckland transport authority with overlapping scope.
- Land Transport Authority (Singapore): Singapore Government agency that plans, builds and operates the country's land transport infrastructure including the MRT metro system. Comparable as a government entity with major urban rail tunnel construction and operations capability across a network.
Others
- KiwiRail: New Zealand state-owned enterprise operating the national rail network. Receives CRL tunnels post-handover and is a current technical/operational partner to CRL Ltd during construction. Comparable as a state-owned rail entity but operating rather than delivering new infrastructure.
Direct peers
- Sydney Metro: NSW Government-owned delivery entity for the Sydney Metro programme, including the recently opened Sydney Metro City & Southwest with twin tunnels and new underground stations in central Sydney. Directly comparable model: state-owned project entity delivering urban metro tunnels with international construction alliances.
- Société du Grand Paris (Grand Paris Express): French state-owned delivery entity building the €35bn+ Grand Paris Express — 200km of new automated metro tunnels and 68 new stations around Paris. Comparable as a government-owned entity tasked with delivering one of the world's largest urban rail expansion programmes.
- Rail Projects Victoria (Melbourne Metro Tunnel): Victorian Government division that delivered the A$13bn Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project — twin 9km tunnels and five new underground stations. Closest Australasian peer to CRL in scale, delivery model, and tunnel-construction complexity.
- California High-Speed Rail Authority: US state-owned delivery authority for the California High Speed Rail project. Comparable as a publicly funded rail delivery entity, though HSCR has experienced well-documented cost overruns and schedule pressures relevant to CRL's risk profile.
- HS2 Ltd: UK Government-owned company delivering the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project. Comparable as a state-owned project delivery entity for a major rail infrastructure programme, though HS2 is intercity rather than urban metro.
- Crossrail Ltd (Elizabeth Line): UK government-owned project delivery entity that built the £18bn+ Elizabeth Line, a 100km cross-London rail link with twin tunnels and new underground stations. Closest comparable: state-owned entity delivering a megaproject urban rail tunnel corridor with handover to an operator (TfL).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
City Rail Link social profiles
Digital presenceCity Rail Link compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
City Rail Link financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
City Rail Link leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
City Rail Link funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
City Rail Link M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about City Rail Link
What does City Rail Link do?
City Rail Link (CRL) delivers a complete underground rail link comprising twin 3.45km tunnels up to 42 metres deep connecting Waitematā Station with Maungawhau Station, two new underground stations (Te Waihorotiu at 11m depth and Karanga-a-Hape at 33m depth), and the redevelopment of Waitematā Station (formerly a dead-end station, now converted to a through station) and Maungawhau Station. The $5.493 billion programme is delivered by City Rail Link Limited in partnership with the Link Alliance and built to enable nine-car electric trains, wider network improvements and increased rail capacity across Auckland's public transport system.
Is City Rail Link a public or private company?
City Rail Link is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was City Rail Link founded?
City Rail Link was founded in 2017. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is City Rail Link based?
City Rail Link is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does City Rail Link make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Infrastructure Funding.
Who are City Rail Link's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MTR Corporation (Hong Kong), Auckland Transport and Land Transport Authority (Singapore). KiwiRail is listed as an others. Direct peers are Sydney Metro, Société du Grand Paris (Grand Paris Express), Rail Projects Victoria (Melbourne Metro Tunnel), California High-Speed Rail Authority, HS2 Ltd and Crossrail Ltd (Elizabeth Line).
Does City Rail Link have an API?
No public API is recorded for City Rail Link.
What industry is City Rail Link in?
City Rail Link's product category is Underground Rail Infrastructure Construction. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAEAC, Tunnel Construction (Road, Rail, Utility), with a secondary code of THAIALAA, Railway Stations (Intercity & Regional). Its NAICS code is 488210 and its SIC code is 4011.