Auckland’s $5.5 Billion City Rail Link Will Finally Open This September

After a decade of construction, years of disruption and plenty of anticipation, Auckland’s City Rail Link finally has an opening date.

The mammoth $5.5 billion transport project will officially open to passengers on Sunday, 13 September 2026, marking the arrival of one of the biggest changes to Auckland’s public transport network in generations.

The opening will bring two brand-new underground stations into service, transform the existing Maungawhau Station and send passenger trains through 3.4 kilometres of new tunnels beneath central Auckland.

And Aucklanders are already getting a taste of what's to come. Thousands headed underground for a first look at Karanga-a-Hape Station over the weekend, following an earlier public preview of Maungawhau Station, with Te Waihorotiu Station next to open its doors ahead of the official launch.

Here’s what you need to know before trains start rolling.

Jump to:

• When Will Auckland’s City Rail Link Open?
• What Are The New City Rail Link Stations?
• How Will The City Rail Link Change Auckland’s Train Network?
• How Much Did Auckland’s City Rail Link Cost?

When Will Auckland’s City Rail Link Open?

The City Rail Link will open on Sunday, 13 September 2026, bringing an end to around a decade of construction on the enormous infrastructure project.

The Sunday launch will give passengers their first opportunity to travel through the new network before regular weekday services get underway.

The date had been the subject of speculation earlier this month, with reports suggesting 13 September was favoured for the opening before it was officially confirmed.

Practical completion of the City Rail Link was reached in June, when the project's stations were handed over to Auckland Transport and the tunnels to KiwiRail ahead of the final preparations for passenger services.

What Are The New City Rail Link Stations?

At the centre of the project are two major new underground stations: Te Waihorotiu Station in midtown Auckland and Karanga-a-Hape Station near Karangahape Road.

The project also incorporates Maungawhau Station, connecting the new underground infrastructure with Auckland's existing rail network.

Aucklanders have been able to head underground themselves ahead of the September launch, with public open days giving thousands their first glimpse inside the stations.

Maungawhau was the first to welcome visitors, followed by Karanga-a-Hape on 15 August. Thousands turned out for the latter, while Te Waihorotiu Station is the final new station set to receive a public preview before the network opens.

How Will The City Rail Link Change Auckland’s Train Network?

The City Rail Link is far more than a collection of shiny new stations.

The project includes 3.4 kilometres of twin rail tunnels beneath central Auckland, fundamentally changing how trains travel through the city.

Rather than Auckland's rail network terminating in the city centre, the new infrastructure creates a through-route beneath central Auckland, connecting into the existing network at Maungawhau.

It's a change designed to increase the capacity and reach of Auckland's rail system while providing direct train access to more of the central city.

The new Te Waihorotiu Station is also expected to play a major role in the ongoing revitalisation of Auckland's midtown, bringing rapid transit directly into an area undergoing significant investment and development.

How Much Did Auckland’s City Rail Link Cost?

The City Rail Link has ultimately cost around $5.5 billion, more than $2 billion above its original estimate, making it New Zealand's largest infrastructure project.

It's also been around a decade in the making, with years of major construction reshaping parts of central Auckland as the tunnels and stations took shape beneath the city.

Now, the finish line is finally in sight.

With public previews underway and the stations readying for passengers, Aucklanders have less than a month to wait before they can actually step aboard a train and travel through the network themselves.

City Rail Link opens Sunday, 13 September 2026.

Image credit: City Rail Link | Instagram