July start for Auckland's railway station at Britomart

By BERNARD ORSMAN

Auckland's new $211 million underground railway station at Britomart is fast taking shape in time for opening next July.

Hidden from public view, a giant hole the length of two rugby fields has been dug and is being enclosed in concrete to create a state-of-the-art railway station.

At the same time, around 100 workers are refurbishing the old Chief Post Office, which will be the grand entrance to the Britomart station in Queen Elizabeth Square.

The post office is still sealed off while deadly white asbestos, found in May, is removed.

Around 200,000cu m of soil was excavated to a depth of 12m - the height of a two-storey building - while giant, curved beams were positioned on supporting pillars.

Eventually the concrete shell will be draped in stainless steel mesh to create a glistening station that builds on Auckland's botanical and geological features.

The underground station and the post office will be connected by a giant glass canopy and drenched in natural light. At the back of the post office, escalators and stairs will take commuters down one level to the train station, with a curved waterfall on either side.

The station will have four commuter tracks and one intercity track. It will be the world's only underground diesel station, with extractor fans to remove fumes.

Four of 11 giant volcanic cones have been installed along the length of the station to provide natural light.

They rise above ground level alongside a new walkway, known as Ta Huhu St, which runs from the back of the post office towards Britomart Place.

Auckland City Council is considering the future of 20 historic buildings in various states of disrepair which it owns. They ring the 3.5ha Britomart site, with enough land for six development sites.

The buildings, valued at around $25 million, and development sites cover approximately 84,000sq m - more than double the size of St Lukes shopping centre - with extra space for around 710 carparks.

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