Honeywell to deliver comms system for Auckland's City Rail Link

Honeywell is working with The Link Alliance to install an integrated control system and communications system for Auckland’s City Rail Link project, designed to help improve rail operations and create more unified communications for better passenger and station safety by migrating multiple subsystems into a unified platform. The Link Alliance is a group of seven companies that is delivering the main stations, tunnels and systems of the City Rail Link (CRL).

The City Rail Link is being touted as New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project ever, featuring a 3.45 km twin tunnel underground rail link up to 42 m below the Auckland city centre. It will transform the downtown Britomart Transport Centre into a two-way through-station that better connects the Auckland rail network and will allow the rail network to at least double its rail capacity.

Honeywell, having previously supported upgrades and expansion work at the Britomart Station, will design, supply, test and commission both an integrated control system (ICS) and communication system across four CRL stations and tunnels. The company will install its Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI) and Building Management System (BMS) solution across the stations to integrate more than 20,000 sensor points in a highly available configuration to provide the CRL operations team with a unified view across all the subsystems installed in the tunnel and stations.

“We are pleased to expand our work with the City Rail Link team to support this monumental infrastructure project, which will help to transform transportation in New Zealand,” said Michelle Bunting, New Zealand General Manager, Honeywell Building Technologies. “Our team is focused on creating a more seamless control experience for the CRL operations team while also creating a safer passenger experience with more comprehensive communications protocols.”

Honeywell will also provide ICT systems and solutions, create a network and Wi-Fi infrastructure for all extra-low-voltage (ELV) systems, provide cybersecurity auditing and monitoring, install a Honeywell Variodyn D1 PAVA system for public address announcements throughout the stations, deploy in-station technology solutions including passenger information display (PIDs), help points, CCTV cameras and video management systems, and install radio and cellular communications networks (DAS) throughout the stations and tunnels for emergency services, the public and rail operators.

“Honeywell offered a turnkey solution that allows us to work with a single supplier to address both of our integrated control and communications system needs,” said Francois Dudouit, Project Director, Link Alliance. “They demonstrated a strong local capability for project delivery as well as ongoing service and support, which is critical in a time when there is uncertainty and travel and offshore delivery. We’re able to work with a local Honeywell team with strong knowledge of our project requirements.”

Image caption: Link Alliance Project Director Francois Dudouit.