Avondale to Southdown Rail Corridor

Acquired in the 1940s as part of an expansive rail plan for the city, the 13km east-west ribbon of land was intended to be developed for both passengers and freight. Substantial efforts over the last 80 years have ensured the route remains allocated for rail and an option for future.

The 30-year Strategic Rail Programme, launched at the end of 2023 by KiwiRail and Auckland Transport, clearly identified the Avondale-Southdown development as a critical part of Auckland’s and New Zealand’s future rail network, required in the next 15-20 years. The programme details the upsides of bypassing freight around the city centre (including reducing congestion), the benefits that the wider metro network gains from the addition, and the communities that would become better connected for future.

The potential line’s inclusion on the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals list in 2024 further reinforced the importance for this rail connection – often called “Auckland rail’s missing limb”.

Across 2025 and 2026 our Strategic Metro Investments team, with the help of expert agencies and consultancies, is undertaking the most thorough feasibility and scoping study of the rail corridor to date. Their primary objective is to protect the existing rail designation, which is due to lapse in 2029, and to progress initial planning. Additionally, they’ll be engaging with key stakeholders and compiling information about the corridor development opportunity.

While not yet funded, the overarching vision is to build the line and deliver the many benefits of improved rail infrastructure - for local communities, for Auckland, and for New Zealand - for generations to come

Pre-concept design: how might the line be constructed and be connected to the rest of the network?

National freight efficiency: How would this route potentially improve efficiency of freight movement between our ports? What would this mean for importers, exporters and the economy?

Passenger connectivity: How could this line interact with the existing public transport network? What positive impacts does it have on future passenger movements in the city?

Network resilience: How does the rail network benefit from a new line? How does it add capacity and reliability to the wider network?

Urban regeneration: Which neighbourhoods would benefit from the new line? What opportunities could be created for local communities?

Cost and revenues: What are the potential costs for creation of the line? How much revenue could be driven by it and how much would it cost to run?

Private sector investment: What opportunities are most appealing for private sector participation. How much could they fund?