Avondale rail level crossings
We’re planning to replace western rail level crossings with safer connections.
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Project details
Start date
March 2026End date
TBCLocation
AvondaleTransport involved
Walking, driving and cyclingOverview
To find safer, smoother ways to keep you moving as the city grows and more trains are needed, we’re planning for the future of the rail crossings at Avondale Station (Crayford Street), St Jude Street, Chalmers Street and St Georges Road.
It is part of the Western Rail Crossings Programme, to allow more frequent trains while keeping traffic moving, improving safety and supporting urban development.
These rail crossings work together as a system at the heart of a growing town centre with strong transit-oriented development potential.
Crossings around Avondale Station are heavily used by school children, people accessing the town centre, and traffic moving between Wolverton Street, Great North Road and local neighbourhoods. They also provide access between station platforms.
St Jude Street is a key connection between New North Road and Great North Road, supporting travel between west Auckland and the city, as well as access to Avondale town centre.
Chalmers Street and St Georges Road primarily serve local traffic but also provide important links between neighbourhoods, the town centre and the wider road network.
Latest updates
From March 2026, we engaged with our partners, stakeholders, businesses and local communities. We shared information about the Rail Level Crossings Programme and heard initial feedback. Groups we talked to included:
- local government representatives, like local boards and councillors
- mana whenua representatives
- transport advocacy organisations
- community stakeholders, like schools and business associations
- residents and commuters, who regularly use rail crossings.
What we've heard from the community
Avondale Station (Crayford Street)
We received 98 survey responses for Avondale Station (Crayford Street). We heard that:
- it is an important connection and is a key pedestrian link to the station.
- the shared path is too narrow, which creates crowding and conflicts, and it is difficult for slower users (e.g. prams, mobility needs)
- the nearby intersections add complexity and safety risks.
We know from HOP card data that:
- Avondale has high peak-period station activity, and Crayford Street is the primary access point to the station
- train tag-on data shows around 71% of station users enter or exit via this crossing, highlighting its critical role as a walking and cycling connection into the station
- around 27% of station users are children, secondary or tertiary students, reinforcing the importance of safe, accessible and reliable crossing conditions for everyday school travel.
St Jude Street
We received 364 survey responses for St Jude Street. We heard that:
- many people support a bridge or underpass to separate St Jude Street from the rail line
- it is an important connection between major roads with few alternatives, which puts pressure on the crossing
- congestion at the crossing is frequent with long, unpredictable delays
- there is existing congestion, frequent train delays and safety concerns at nearby intersections
- St Jude Street crossing plays a secondary but important role in access to Avondale station
- there are long barrier closures due to train activity
- queueing affects surrounding roads and intersections.
We know from HOP card data that around 27% of station users enter via this route, supporting movement to and from the station and surrounding areas alongside the primary access at Crayford Street.
Chalmers Street
We received 120 survey responses for Chalmers Street. We heard that:
- this is a local street under increasing pressure with more traffic, limited space, and growing safety concerns at busy times
- it is a narrow road with a steep slope and parked cars limits space
- there are congestion and delays during peak times and train movements
- the shared space between cars, pedestrians, and cyclists adds complexity
- there are accessibility challenges for people with limited mobility.
St Georges Road
We received 153 survey responses for St Georges Road. We heard that:
- it is a local alternative route with generally lower traffic
- there are delays and queues during peak times and increased train movements
- the angled crossing makes it harder to use
- there are limited space and protection for pedestrians and cyclists
- locals have had mixed experiences, with some safety concerns raised.
The crossings in this area operate as a connected system, so traffic, walking and cycling movements need to be considered across the wider network rather than at individual streets. Key challenges include:
- St Jude Street is steep which could limit potential solutions at this crossing
- the New Lynn to Avondale shared path crosses Chalmers Street close to the rail line increasing interactions between cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles at this crossing
- the Avondale area has been identified for urban redevelopment and transit‑oriented development
- capacity and safety pressures already exist at key intersections, particularly around the St Jude Street and Great North Road roundabout, which affects how traffic moves through the area
- due to the angle that the rail line intersects with St Georges Road, pedestrian crossing facilities must be further away to shorten their crossing path.
Due to how close the crossings are to each other, it is likely that there will trade-off decisions about which crossings remain open or are closed.
Timeline
Investment case
During the next two years, we’ll identify the preferred approach to replace western rail level crossings with safer connections, and how to prioritise when they’re built. This is key to developing an investment case to seek funding for future phases.
This stage includes:
- Technical assessments: such as traffic and pedestrian counts, safety audits, ground investigations, environmental and flood analysis, and urban design studies. We’ll consider past trends, current conditions and future needs.
- Community input: we’ll engage mana whenua, local boards, elected members, schools, businesses and communities to understand how crossings are used today and what’s needed for the future.
We’ll share what we find to support discussions about potential options, including key constraints and trade-offs. Community feedback will help shape the preferred approach for each crossing.
Statutory approvals
After an approved investment case, the next step will be to seek funding for statutory approvals. These are needed to consent or protect the land required for a future crossing.
Protecting land now means that projects can be constructed in stages as funding is available.
It also provides property owners, businesses and the community with certainty on where transport routes will be in the future. This can help people make informed decisions about their own land and the development of that land.
During this phase, we will:
- Engage one-to-one with directly affected landowners.
- Continue working with elected members, mana whenua and stakeholders.
Detailed design and construction
Designs will continue to be refined through targeted engagement in this phase.
Construction will be staged according to network needs. While we expect to start replacing some rail crossings in the Inner West from early to mid-2030s, timeframes are dependent on funding.
During this phase, we will:
- Engage one-to-one with directly affected landowners.
- Continue working with elected members, mana whenua, and key stakeholders.
- Communicate clearly with communities about construction timing, disruption, and how we'll manage the impacts of construction.
Community feedback
Project background
The next 20 to 30 years will see more people living, working and studying close to the rail corridor, especially train stations. That means more people taking trains, walking and cycling to stations and more activity around the rail corridor.
Replacing rail crossings with safer connections is key to unlocking the full City Rail Link benefits of allowing even more trains to run in the future while making it safer and easier to get around your local area. It also supports urban development.
If we don’t replace level crossings people may take more risks as barrier arms are down more often and there will be increased congestion, impacting the economy.