Auckland City Rail Link opens after decade of construction

Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) has officially opened, marking the completion of a nearly decade-long, $5.5 billion underground rail project. The network includes 3.5 kilometres of tunnels beneath the Auckland CBD and features two new underground stations: Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape.

Following a record-breaking opening Sunday where approximately 70,000 people used the rail network, the first weekday morning peak showed strong engagement. Early data from Auckland Transport indicates that by 9:00 am, roughly 24,000 passengers had boarded trains, representing a 25% increase compared to the previous Monday.

Services maintained a 99% punctuality rate during the morning peak. Auckland Transport has deployed staff at key transfer hubs, such as Maungawhau, to assist commuters with new routes and transfers. A full new timetable is expected to be implemented within six months.