Emergency crews have completed their very last practice drill inside Auckland’s City Rail Link, just weeks before the underground train tunnels open to the public.
The exercise, held near Te Waihorotiu Station, tested how firefighters, police, ambulance staff and rail workers would handle a fire on a train deep underground. Some of the tunnels sit more than 40 metres below the city, so working safely down there takes careful planning.
It was the last of 15 practice drills held as part of the testing programme. In total, more than 1,400 volunteers pretended to be passengers, and more than 75 actors helped make the scenarios feel real, alongside over 200 emergency personnel and more than 50 emergency vehicles.
Kim Moser, from Hato Hone St John, said the drills had been valuable. “This testing has been an important opportunity for our ambulance personnel to build familiarity with the CRL’s new underground environment,” she said.
Mark Lambert, of Auckland Transport, said the teamwork between agencies would help keep people safe. “The strong collaboration between emergency services and our rail partners has helped build confidence that Aucklanders will be well supported should an incident ever occur,” he said.
The City Rail Link is due to open on 13 September 2026, giving Aucklanders a big new way to get around the city.
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