O'Neills Road rail level crossing
We’re planning to replace western rail level crossings with safer connections.
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Project details
Start date
March 2026End date
TBCLocation
SwansonTransport involved
Walking 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 O’Neills Road rail crossing.
It is part of the Western Rail Crossings Programme, to allow more frequent trains while keeping traffic moving, improving safety and supporting urban development.
O’Neills Road is a pedestrian rail crossing that connects residents on the southern side of the rail line to local destinations and amenities on the northern side.
In 2023, Auckland Transport consulted the Swanson community on a proposal to close the crossing and improve alternative routes. Following community feedback, the crossing remained open, and AT committed to working with the community to find a suitable long-term solution.
Since then, safety upgrades have been made, including the installation of an automatic safety gate.
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
We received 126 survey responses for O’Neills Road. We heard that:
- this as an essential community connection and expect any replacement (such as an active mode bridge) to be delivered in the same location
- there was support for an active mode bridge to replace this level crossing connection
- there are limited safety or access concerns overall
- minor improvements are needed (footpaths, lighting, surfaces)
- consider accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and those with limited mobility.
The number of people using this crossing is low, and there are alternative walking routes available. This means major upgrades, such as a pedestrian overbridge, may provide limited benefit when compared to the cost and environmental impact.
However, community feedback has highlighted strong opposition to closing the crossing. Community concerns, especially around community severance, will be considered alongside funding constraints.
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.