Date: 11 September 2026
After years of planning, construction and preparation, the countdown is almost over. This Sunday, the City Rail Link (CRL) will become part of everyday life, ushering in the biggest transformation of Auckland's rail network in generations.
Ahead of the start of passenger services, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, ministers, councillors and mana whenua formally opened the City Rail Link on Friday, celebrating New Zealand's largest ever infrastructure project.
The City Rail Link creates a new rail network in Auckland, with new stations, new train routes and a new timetable that will connect more Aucklanders to more destinations across Tāmaki Makaurau.
“Today is the beginning of a new chapter. We're incredibly proud of what has been achieved and are excited to welcome Aucklanders aboard,” says Auckland Transport Chief Executive Stacey van der Putten.
“Our focus now is on helping customers confidently navigate the new network and delivering the safe, reliable service Aucklanders expect. Significant interest is expected on opening day as Aucklanders experience the City Rail Link for the first time. We encourage people to familiarise themselves with the new rail network and how it connects with the wider public transport system before travelling."
The launch of passenger services will represent one of the largest operational changes ever undertaken on Auckland's public transport network, drawing on more than a decade of planning, delivery and preparation by City Rail Link Ltd, Auckland Transport and KiwiRail to prepare the railway for service.
“The City Rail Link is one of New Zealand's most ambitious infrastructure projects,” says City Rail Link Limited CEO Pat Brockie.
“Today was a chance to reflect and recognise the thousands of people who have helped bring it to life. What Aucklanders will experience on Sunday is the result of years of engineering, construction, testing and collaboration. We are incredibly proud of the part we played and are excited to see it ready to serve Auckland for generations to come."
In recent months, the focus has been on the extensive testing of trains and systems in the new tunnels and stations as well as preparation for frontline staff involved in implementing and running an entirely new train network.
Maintaining Auckland's existing rail services while building and integrating an entirely new underground railway, along with widespread network upgrades and new rail infrastructure has been a significant undertaking.
"Customers will see new stations and new journey opportunities, but behind the scenes there has been an enormous amount of work to ensure the network is ready to operate safely and reliably from day one," says Bevan Assink KiwiRail’s Chief Metro Officer.
“It’s also been about preparing the wider network to support the CRL. From renewing critical foundations and upgrading rail infrastructure, to installing modern drainage and delivering new stations in Drury, 19kms of electrification to extend the metro and a 6.5km third line to separate freight from passenger rail at the busiest part of the Auckland network. This transformation has been many years in the making. We’re all very happy to have made it to this huge milestone.”
Auckland One Rail and KiwiRail are deploying extra resources during the opening period, to ensure train services and track infrastructure run as smoothly as possible, and any issues can be responded to quickly.
Additional staff will also be at stations across the rail network to help customers navigate the new stations, understand the new routes and answer questions about the new timetable.
There will be a number of activities taking place in or around stations on the network run by local communities and local boards including things such as coffee carts, buskers, giveaways.
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