Benefits of the City Rail Link (CRL)

The new CRL will provide:

• faster journeys
• new direct travel options
• better access to the city centre.

The Journey Planner will always help you find the most convenient route.

Increased capacity

The entire rail network will be able to double in capacity and operate more efficiently. This is because Waitematā Station will become a 2-way through station and connect with Maungawhau Station through the CRL tunnel. These services will also stop at new stations in midtown at Te Waihorotiu Station, and uptown at Karanga-a-Hape Station.

More options for travel

There will be more journey options, including a line running from the West towards the East. This means for some journeys you can avoid the city centre stations if you want to.​ 

More frequency

Trains will be able to run more often on most lines, especially in peak times. 

Shorter travel times

Travel times will be improved, along with connections to other services. 

Once the CRL is open and subject to normal operations, you'll be able to travel from Waitematā to Maungawhau in under 10 minutes (about half the time it currently takes). On other journeys you'll be able to travel: 

• Panmure to Karangahape Road in just 21 minutes (save 14 minutes)
• Ellerslie to Karangahape Road in 17 minutes (save 19 minutes)
• Glen Innes to Te Waihorotiu in 15 minutes (save 10 minutes)
• Henderson to Te Waihorotiu in 35 minutes (save 24 minutes).