Date: 13 September 2026

After the smooth running of the first passenger train services through the City Rail Link (CRL)and a brief period of disruption due to a small electrical fire at Waitematā Station, services across the Auckland rail network are back on track.

Trains were temporarily disrupted at about 6am when a small electrical fire started in a lighting cable above a Waitematā Station platform and the station was evacuated. Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews promptly attended and put out the fire, providing clearance at 6.23am.

Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape stations were also evacuated as a precaution, as part of our standard safety procedures for when trains are not able to run through the CRL tunnels.

This incident led to delays across the network, with trains detoured around the CRL stations.

Services have now resumed to Waitematā, Te Waihorotiu, and Karanga-a-Hape stations and trains are back to running at their regular 15-minute frequencies on the South-City and East-West lines. Trains are running at their regular 30minute frequencies on the Onehunga-West line.

Our teams have been working to get services running back to timetable as quickly as possible and although trains are operating frequently we are still working to get them back in sync with our train timetables.

Aucklanders should check the AT Mobile App or AT website for the latest information about their train service and for journey planning tools.

We would like to once again thank Aucklanders for their patience as we have worked through this issue this morning.

Next media standup at 3pm

 AT, KiwiRail and Auckland One Rail spokespeople will be available to provide an update on the day’s train services and to answer your questions at 3pm today.

The stand-up will take place inside Te Waihorotiu Station at the Victoria Street end.

-ENDS-