WELLINGTON, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The long-awaited City Rail Link (CRL) in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, will open to passengers on Sept. 13, the government said on Thursday.
The CRL, New Zealand's largest transport infrastructure project ever, has been under construction for a decade, Radio New Zealand reported.
"The CRL will fundamentally change the way Auckland's rail network operates, with faster journeys, more frequent services, and better connections across the city," Transport Minister Chris Bishop was quoted as saying in a release.
The 3.45-km twin-tunnel underground railway and new stations are expected to reduce travel times, increase train frequencies, improve cross-city connections and support growth in Auckland's city center, noted the release.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said businesses affected by years of construction would benefit from increased foot traffic once the line opens. ■
