The Auckland City Rail Link (CRL) opened to passengers on 12 September 2026, marking the completion of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project to date. The $5.5 billion project included renaming the central Britomart station to Waitematā and converting it from a terminal into a through-station servicing trains running beneath Auckland’s central business district (CBD).
Infrastructure and Route Details
The CRL features a 3.5 km underground tunnel running through Auckland’s CBD. Two new underground stations debuted: Te Waihorotiu near the Sky Tower and Karanga-a-Hape on Karangahape Road. The tunnel connects with existing suburban rail lines, allowing trains from across Auckland’s rail network—excluding the Onehunga line—to
pass through the city centre directly without terminating at Waitematā station.
Opening Day Operations and Timetable
Service began with the first train arriving at Karanga-a-Hape station at 5:22 a.m. on 12 September, having departed Ōtāhuhu station at 4:57 a.m. Trains on the South-City and East-West lines commenced around 5 a.m. on opening day. Sundays feature trains every 15 minutes until 8 p.m., reducing to every 30 minutes thereafter. During peak hours beneath the city, trains run approximately every four minutes through the tunnel.
Passengers can use prepaid AT HOP cards or contactless payments such as Paywave, Apple Pay, or Google Pay to tag on and
off at platforms. Children under 13 and SuperGold cardholders ride free outside peak times with pre-registered HOP cards. New underground stations include escalators and elevators for accessibility, and bicycles and scooters are permitted onboard.
Project Timeline and Cost Factors
Early construction activities began in 2016, followed by major tunnelling and station works from 2019. Initial costs were estimated at $2.9 billion but escalated to $4.4 billion by 2019 and finalized at $5.5 billion. The original completion target of 2024 was delayed by two years due to COVID-19 impacts, with the project ultimately finishing six months later than the revised schedule.
John Bridgman, chairperson of CRL
Ltd, called the project “the biggest transport transformation in Auckland since the Harbour Bridge” and noted that despite perceived delays, the project was only six months late during a nine-year build.
Commuter Information and Transitional Timetable
Passengers are encouraged to begin journeys from local suburban stations, with Auckland Transport CEO Stacey van der Putten stating there will be ample opportunities to travel through the CRL from early on opening day. The network operates under a reduced transitional timetable initially, running six trains per hour at peak service instead of the intended eight due to congestion issues during earlier testing phases.
Most suburban stations lack parking,
so use of connecting bus services—which are typically included in travel costs—is advised. KiwiRail has confirmed the tunnel structure will not require major maintenance closures for at least three years following its opening.
Official Comments and Project Significance
Stacey van der Putten said, “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.” She added that trains across the network will run through the CRL from early morning, making opening day notable for commuters.
John Bridgman emphasized the project’s scope as Auckland’s largest transport overhaul in decades
and justified the timeline: “Everyone says this project is late. Yes, we’re not up to the projected timelines, but we’re only six months late in a nine-year project.”
The CRL’s completion introduces New Zealand’s first major underground railway stations in Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape, substantially enhancing Auckland’s rail capacity and service frequency through the city centre.
