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Joint Auckland Transport and KiwiRail Media Release

Date: 16 July 2026

Auckland’s newest railway stations, Drury and Paerātā, will open to customers on Sunday 2 August 2026, putting South Auckland and Franklin’s fast-growing communities on the rapid transit map just in time for City Rail Link.

The new Drury and Paerātā stations, which have been built by KiwiRail with government funding, will be served by Auckland’s Southern Line, giving nearby communities seamless public transport journeys to Auckland’s city centre, Auckland Airport (via Puhinui and the AirportLink), Middlemore Hospital and destinations along the rest of the Southern Line.

The opening of the two stations will also be supported by an upgraded local bus network, making it quicker and easier for people in Paerata Rise, Ramarama, Drury, Waiuku, Glenbrook and Pukekohe to connect to Drury and Franklin train stations. Each station also provides 350 park and ride spaces with room for further extension in the future.

The new stations and improved bus services are being welcomed by Councillor Andy Baker, the Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee Chair and Franklin Ward Councillor, who is looking forward to Drury Station opening as a Drury resident and regular train commuter.

“It’s been more than 50 years since there was a train station in Drury and since then we’ve seen a huge transformation on Auckland’s rail network, as well as in our communities,” Councillor Baker says.

“These new stations are going to make such a big difference for people living in South Auckland and Franklin and save them countless hours stuck on the Southern Motorway.

“For people who live in or move to subdivisions near the new stations they will have great modern public transport options from day one.

“These stations and buses help make sure the massive growth we’re seeing in Franklin is being supported by the infrastructure communities need, and it will be really exciting to see our communities making the most of these in a couple of weeks.

“Plus, when the City Rail Link opens these new stations will be the starting point for even more trips that at the moment are trickier on public transport, like heading to a test match at Eden Park or to Te Waihorotiu for a night out in town.”

As a local resident who regularly travels by train, KiwiRail’s Chief Metro Officer Bevan Assink, is looking forward to the new stations opening.

“KiwiRail is proud to be delivering the necessary infrastructure required to support train travel today and to future proof for population growth in south Auckland,” Mr Assink says.

“These new stations will provide the wider community with faster routes into the city, more environmentally friendly public transport options, and reduce congestion on roads.”
Bus services designed to integrate new stations seamlessly in wider network

Auckland Transport Chief Executive Stacey van der Putten says the new stations are part of a much bigger transformation of Auckland’s public transport network.

“From Sunday 2 August, Drury and Paerātā Railway Stations will be connected directly into Auckland’s rail network, with trains running from early morning until late evening, seven days a week,” Ms van der Putten says.

“Over the past few years there has been a massive investment in improved public transport links for South Auckland and Franklin, with the electrification of the Southern Line to Pukekohe and big improvements to bus services that line up with train timetables.

“Auckland Transport has worked closely with KiwiRail during the design and construction of these stations, which include lots of useful features for passengers like Park and Ride facilities, pick-up and drop-off areas, and parks for both bikes and motorbikes.

“With the opening of these two new stations we are giving people real transport choices at a time when we know Aucklanders are looking further out of the city for more affordable housing and a lifestyle that suits them.”

Notes to the editor

  • A third new station in Drury is currently under construction - Ngākōroa Railway Station is planned to open in 2027 and will also be served by the South City Line.
  • Drury and Paerātā Railway Stations will be served by Southern Line trains which run from early morning until late evening, with late-night trains on Friday and Saturday nights.
  • When the City Rail Link opens the stations will be served by the South -City Line, with trains running every 10 minutes at peak times, every 15-minutes off-peak and every half-hour at night.
  • Ahead of the stations opening, Auckland Transport will be hosting a public information day for local communities on Saturday 1 August, where staff will be on hand to answer any questions people have about the new stations and the public transport services operating to them.
  • The public information sessions will be held at Drury Railway Station from 10am to 12pm and at Paerātā Railway Station from 2pm to 4pm.
  • Two new bus services will begin from Sunday 2 August to connect local communities with the new stations. Using one of these connecting bus services won’t cost passengers who are connecting to trains, as long as they transfer to the next service within 30 minutes.

-ENDS-