奧克蘭城市鐵路環線終於通車
After years of construction and more than a century of debate, Auckland's City Rail Link has finally opened to passengers.
The project is a 3.45-kilometre twin tunnel that runs underneath the city centre. Until now, trains coming into the central city had to stop at Waitematā (Britomart) station and then reverse back out the way they had come – a bit like driving into a dead end. The new tunnels turn that dead end into a through-route, so trains can pass straight through the city and carry on to the other side.
Three new stations have been built along the way. Two of them, Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape, are deep underground, close to some of the busiest shopping, office and university areas in the country. The third, Maungawhau, replaces the old Mount Eden station.
Transport officials say the change is the biggest shake-up of Auckland's rail network in generations. Trains are expected to run more often, and many journeys will be quicker, especially for people travelling across the city rather than just into it.
The opening caps a difficult period for commuters, who put up with years of roadworks, rising costs and a summer when the entire rail network was shut for more than a month for upgrades. Many will be hoping the wait was worth it.
經過多年施工和一百多年的爭論，奧克蘭的城市鐵路環線（City Rail Link）終於通車，迎來第一批乘客。
這個計畫是一條長 3.45 公里、從市中心地底穿過的雙孔隧道。以前，開進市中心的火車必須在懷特瑪塔站（舊稱布里托馬特站）停下，再沿原路倒退出去，就像把車開進死巷。新隧道把這條死巷變成貫通的路線，火車可以直接穿過市區，繼續開到另一頭。
沿線新蓋了三座車站。其中兩座——特懷霍羅蒂烏站和卡蘭加阿哈佩站——深埋地下，靠近全國最熱鬧的購物區、辦公區和大學區。第三座毛加瓦烏站則取代了原本的伊甸山站。
交通單位表示，這是奧克蘭鐵路網幾十年來最大的一次改變。火車班次預計會更密集，很多行程也會更快，尤其是要橫越市區、而不只是進城的乘客。
通車前，通勤族度過了一段辛苦的日子：多年的道路施工、一再上漲的經費，還有一個夏天整個鐵路網為了升級停駛了一個多月。很多人都希望，這麼久的等待是值得的。