The City Rail Link (CRL) is New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project ever, opening 13 September 2026.
Twin 3.45km rail tunnels up to 42m underground between Waitematā Station and Maungawhau Stations
Two new underground stations -Te Waihorotiu in midtown and Karanga-a-Hape with entrances at Mercury Lane and Beresford Square
Waitematā Station redeveloped into a two-way through station
Maungawhau Station redeveloped to include the new CRL connection and a modern station building
Wider rail network improvements including The Strand, Ōtāhuhu Henderson and Newmarket
Provision for longer nine-car electric trains
More people friendly spaces around the city.
At the end of June 2026, City Rail Link Limited achieved practical completion of the CRL Project and handed the completed infrastructure – stations and tunnels over to Auckland Transport and KiwiRail as the owners and operators.
This City Rail Link Ltd website documents the project- as do the CRL social media pages we ran. They are Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
For the latest updates, Auckland Transport has dedicated CRL pages - go here and you can also follow them on their social channels- Facebook and Instagram
AT has a Journey Planner feature that allows you to switch between today's network and the CRL-enabled network.
Auckland's City Rail Link (CRL) will open to passengers on 13 September, with Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown confirming the long-awaited opening date.
"This is one of the most significant transport investments in New Zealand's history, and in just a few weeks Aucklanders will finally be able to use it,” Mr Bishop says.
“The CRL will fundamentally change the way Auckland's rail network operates, with faster journeys, more frequent services, and better connections across the city.
"Reaching this milestone has taken years of work from thousands of people, including engineers, construction crews, mana whenua, KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, City Rail Link Ltd and many others. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible."
The 3.45km twin-tunnel underground railway and new stations at Te Waihorotiu, Karanga-a-Hape and Maungawhau will transform Auckland’s rail network by reducing travel times, increasing train frequencies, improving cross-city connections and unlocking new opportunities for growth in the city centre.
“People have been asking me for years, when the CRL was going to open. Now we can give them an answer,” Mayor Brown says.
“The good news for Aucklanders and business owners is today’s announcement provides certainty. They can now plan for when our new rail network will open in a few weeks’ time with quicker journeys and better access to the city and work.”
Minister of Transport: All Aboard: City Rail Link Opens on 13 September- Media release
Day 1 - 13 September 2026
Passenger train services on the first day, Sunday 13 September, will be operating as a special timetable throughout the day, including first services departing from across the network. Please refer to the AT Journey Planner and AT Mobile for departure and arrival times on this first day, as the timetable is different from the future standard Sunday timetable.
First services on 13 September will be departing earlier than a standard Sunday timetable, from around 5am from across the network.
Trains on the East West line will depart from Henderson, Swanson, Puhinui, Manukau and Waitematā, with first services on the South City from Pukekohe, Puhinui, Parnell and Newmarket (see table below).
This gives lots of options to be on a first passenger service through the CRL departing from across the network.
Demand for trains throughout the day is expected to be high.
“We know many people will be keen to be on one of the first services, and we encourage people to start their first journey from their local station. Trains from right across the network will be travelling through the CRL from early that morning, so there will be plenty of opportunities to be part of this historic day,” says Auckland Transport Chief Executive Stacey van der Putten.
The new off-peak timetable means trains will run every 15 minutes all day on weekends. However, for opening on Sunday 13 September, there will be additional services on the East West and South City line above the standard Sunday timetable.
Auckland Transport will also have ambassadors positioned across the rail network to help passengers navigate the new stations and services.
"They'll be on hand to help answer questions, provide directions and make it easier for people to find their way around the new network," says Ms van der Putten.
“We know people are excited to experience the City Rail Link. We ask everyone to be patient and expect trains and stations to be busy as people check out their new network."
"Welcoming more than 43,000 people through the stations has been an incredible milestone. The enthusiasm, curiosity and pride we've seen from visitors has been overwhelming and the big smiles on people’s faces demonstrates just how much Aucklanders are looking forward to the CRL opening,” says City Rail Link Ltd CEO Patrick Brockie.
KiwiRail and Auckland One Rail will also deploy extra staff during the opening period to ensure train services and track infrastructure run smoothly, and any issues can be responded to rapidly.
The History of the City Rail Link Project
CRL Ltd has produced videos detailing the history of the CRL project.
Episode 2- Breaking Through
Episode 3- Built by Giants
Episode 4- The Stations That Change Everything
Episode 5- It’s Bigger Than You Think
Episode 6- Beyond The Build
