Programme overview

Auckland Transport and Auckland Council, with support from KiwiRail, are working together to replace rail level crossings in Auckland over the next 10 to 30 years.

Rail crossings are places where you walk, drive or cycle directly over train tracks.

Replacing rail crossings with safer connections is key to unlocking the full City Rail Link (CRL) benefits of allowing even more trains to run in the future while keeping traffic moving. It will also support urban development and make it safer and easier to get around your local area.

As Auckland grows and rail demand increases, current crossings won’t work as they do today, with increased traffic delays and safety risks if we don’t replace them.

The Auckland Rail Crossings Programme is funded by Auckland Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

Programme Timeline

The timing and sequencing of projects will depend on a range of factors, including available funding, future train frequencies, and growth in public transport use across different parts of the rail network.

To get ready for CRL, 14 rail crossings have already been closed or replaced during the past 10 years.

About 250 other safety improvements have been made at rail crossings across Auckland. Automatic safety gates have now been installed at all remaining pedestrian rail crossings on the public transport network.

Stage 1: Takaanini and Glen Innes

We're currently building three new accessible pedestrian bridges to replace pedestrian rail crossings at Glen Innes, Takaanini, and Te Mahia stations. These are on track to open in mid-2026.

Work is underway to replace the remaining rail crossings with bridges in Takaanini, which is one of the busiest sections of the rail network.

Public engagement was held in May and June 2026 to seek feedback from the public on the updated proposed designs for the bridges.

Enabling works have begun, and main construction is anticipated to start in mid-2027. Construction will be phased to manage traffic and other disruption.

Stage 2 and 3: Western rail crossings

We're currently developing an investment case to decide how to replace the 21 remaining Western Line crossings with safer connections, and how to prioritise when they're built. 

As passenger numbers increase, more frequent train services will be needed. Extra capacity will be required by the 2030s on the Inner West line, between Mt Albert and Maungawhau Station. 

Public engagement in April and May 2026 received 2450 responses, with a wide range of views that varied depending on crossing locations. Crossings that received the most feedback were Morningside, Glenview Road in Glen Eden and the cluster of crossings near Baldwin Ave Station in Mt Albert.

Project areas

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