The City Rail Link (CRL) opened to passengers in Auckland on Sunday, September 12, 2026, marking the start of operations on the new underground rail tunnel beneath the city’s central business district (CBD). The inaugural day featured a special timetable with extra trains running from early morning until 3pm. The first train on CRL services departed Ōtāhuhu station at 4:57am and arrived at Karanga-a-Hape station at 5:22am.
City Rail Link Infrastructure and Service Integration
The CRL consists of a 3.5-kilometre twin-tunnel railway under central Auckland. It connects existing suburban lines, allowing trains to travel through the city rather than terminate as they previously did at Britomart station.
Britomart was renamed Waitematā station and converted into a through-station on the new network. The project includes two new underground stations, Te Waihorotiu near the Sky Tower and Karanga-a-Hape off Karangahape Road, which represent New Zealand’s first major underground rail stations.
Operational Timetable and Service Frequency
On Sundays, trains run every 15 minutes on suburban lines until 8pm and every 30 minutes thereafter. Initially, the timetable operates on a reduced ‘transitional’ basis due to earlier congestion issues witnessed during January 2026 testing. This adjustment limits peak suburban service frequency to six trains per hour instead of the planned eight. However, trains travel through the central
tunnel approximately every four minutes at peak times. Auckland Transport aims to restore a full timetable within six months of opening.
Fare Payment and Passenger Facilities
Passengers do not need to reserve seats or book tickets in advance. Fare payment can be made using AT HOP prepaid cards, Paywave, or mobile phone payment systems such as Apple Pay or Google Pay when tagging on and off at station readers. Children under 13 and SuperGold cardholders ride free outside peak hours when using pre-registered HOP cards. Stations generally lack parking facilities, and connecting bus services, often included in fares, provide access to train stations. New city
centre stations offer escalators, elevators, and accessibility for prams. Bikes and scooters are permitted onboard trains. All stations were staffed with customer service personnel on the opening day.
Project History, Budget, and Official Statements
Construction on the CRL started with early works in 2016, with major tunneling and station construction beginning in 2019. The project was completed six months later than planned, opening in 2026 instead of 2024. The delay is largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget increased incrementally from about $2.9 billion during early stages to $4.4 billion in 2019 and ultimately $5.5 billion at completion. CRL Ltd chairperson John Bridgman described the
project as “the biggest transport transformation in Auckland since the Harbour Bridge” and noted the six-month delay in a nine-year timeline. Auckland Transport chief executive Stacey van der Putten encouraged passengers to begin their journeys from local stations, highlighting the volume of trains traveling through the CRL on launch day.
Future Timetable Scaling and Maintenance Outlook
KiwiRail reported that the new tunnel’s structural integrity ensures no major maintenance closures are expected for at least three years. Auckland Transport is working towards implementing full service frequency within six months of the opening. The CRL significantly increases capacity for trains to run through central Auckland, replacing the previous
terminus configuration at Britomart with a continuous rail corridor.
