Auckland's commuter rail network is fully electric, modern and one of the most useful ways to get around the city — particularly for longer journeys across Auckland where buses get stuck in traffic. All four lines currently run from Waitematā Station (Britomart) in the city centre. The City Rail Link, opening in the second half of 2026, will transform the network into a through-running metro system with dramatically increased frequency.
The basics
How to pay
The best way to pay is with an AT HOP card or contactless payment (bank card, Apple Pay, Google Pay). Both give the same discounted fare. Unlike buses, you can pay cash on trains by purchasing a paper ticket from a machine — but fares are significantly higher. Always tag on when you board and tag off when you exit — forgetting to tag off will result in a maximum-zone fare. See the How to pay section on our Public Transport page for full details on AT HOP, concessions and the $50 weekly fare cap.
Operating hours
Trains generally run from around 5am to 11pm on weekdays and Saturdays, with later services on Friday and Saturday nights (until around 12:30am). Sunday services start slightly later and finish earlier. Check at.govt.nz for specific departure times on your line.
Frequency
Current peak frequency is every 10 minutes on the Western, Southern and Eastern Lines from Waitematā. Off-peak trains generally run every 20–30 minutes. The Onehunga Line runs every 30 minutes all day. The City Rail Link (opening late 2026) will increase peak frequency to every 4–8 minutes depending on the section.
💡 Tag on and tag off at the yellow card readers at station gates. If you forget to tag off, you'll be charged the maximum zone fare for your line. You can dispute incorrect fares through your MyAT account.
Current lines
All four lines currently terminate at Waitematā Station (known as Britomart until the CRL opens). All lines are fully electrified — no diesel trains in passenger service.
🟣 Western Line — Swanson to Waitematā
Stations: Swanson · Ranui · Sturges Rd · Henderson · Sunnyvale · Glen Eden · Fruitvale Rd · New Lynn · Avondale · Baldwin Ave · Mt Albert · Morningside · Kingsland · Grafton · Newmarket · Parnell · Waitematā
Serves West Auckland from Swanson through Henderson and New Lynn, arriving at Waitematā via Newmarket and Parnell. Key destinations: Eden Park (Kingsland), Auckland Zoo and MOTAT (Mt Albert), LynnMall (New Lynn), Henderson Central.
Journey time: Swanson to Waitematā ~56 min · Henderson to Waitematā ~35 min · New Lynn to Waitematā ~25 min
🔴 Southern Line — Pukekohe to Waitematā
Stations: Pukekohe · Paeraatā · Drury · Ngākōroa (under construction) · Papakura · Takaanini · Te Māhia · Manurewa · Homai · Manukau · Puhinui · Papatoetoe · Middlemore · Ōtāhuhu · Penrose · Ellerslie · Greenlane · Remuera · Newmarket · Parnell · Waitematā
Auckland's longest line, serving South Auckland from Pukekohe through the major hubs of Manukau and Ōtāhuhu to the city. Key destinations: Westfield Manukau (Manukau), Middlemore Hospital, Ellerslie town centre, Newmarket shopping.
Journey time: Pukekohe to Waitematā ~72 min · Papakura to Waitematā ~57 min · Manukau to Waitematā ~38 min · Ōtāhuhu to Waitematā ~27 min
🟢 Eastern Line — Manukau to Waitematā
Stations: Manukau · Puhinui · Papatoetoe · Middlemore · Ōtāhuhu · Sylvia Park · Panmure · Glen Innes · Meadowbank · Ōrākei · Waitematā
Connects South Auckland at Manukau with East Auckland suburbs and the city centre via the eastern isthmus. Key destinations: Sylvia Park Shopping Centre, Panmure (Eastern Busway connection), Glen Innes community hub.
Journey time: Manukau to Waitematā ~38 min · Sylvia Park to Waitematā ~22 min · Panmure to Waitematā ~16 min
🟡 Onehunga Line — Onehunga to Waitematā
Stations: Onehunga · Te Papapa · Penrose · Ellerslie · Greenlane · Remuera · Newmarket · Parnell · Waitematā
A short branch line serving Onehunga, the industrial inner south and Newmarket. Runs every 30 minutes all day. Key destinations: Onehunga town centre, Penrose industrial area, Newmarket.
Journey time: Onehunga to Waitematā ~25 min
Key stations
City Rail Link — opening late 2026
The City Rail Link (CRL) is the biggest transformation in Auckland's transport history — a 3.45km underground rail tunnel beneath the city centre, connecting Waitematā Station through to Maungawhau Station (lower Mt Eden) via two new underground stations. At its deepest, the tunnel is 42 metres below street level. The CRL is scheduled to open for passengers in the second half of 2026.
New underground stations
New line names and routes
🔴 South-City Line (S-C) — Pukekohe to Waitematā and beyond
Replaces the Southern Line. Trains from Pukekohe travel through the CRL tunnels and loop around the city centre — going via Parnell in one direction and Grafton in the other. This means passengers from South Auckland get direct access to Te Waihorotiu (midtown) and Karanga-a-Hape without changing trains.
Frequency: Every 4–5 minutes through the CRL inner stations · every 8 minutes Papakura to Homai · every 10 minutes Pukekohe to Drury · every 15 minutes at Parnell
🔵 East-West Line (E-W) — Swanson to Manukau
Merges the former Eastern and Western Lines into a single cross-city service. For the first time, passengers can travel directly from West Auckland (Swanson, Henderson, New Lynn) to East and South Auckland (Glen Innes, Panmure, Sylvia Park, Manukau) without changing trains or passing through the city centre. As AT's CEO put it: "You could be shopping at LynnMall and if they don't have what you want, jump on an East-West train straight to Sylvia Park."
Frequency: Every 4–5 minutes through the CRL inner stations · every 8 minutes Swanson to Maungawhau · every 5 minutes Puhinui to Ōtāhuhu
🟡 Onehunga-West Line (O-W) — Onehunga to Maungawhau / Henderson
Extends the existing Onehunga Line westward past its current Newmarket terminus, all the way to Henderson during off-peak hours — creating a new cross-isthmus connection. During peak hours, services run between Onehunga and Maungawhau only. Does not run through the CRL tunnels.
Frequency: Every 30 minutes on the Onehunga to Te Papapa section
Planned CRL frequencies at a glance
| Section | Trains per hour (approx.) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| CRL tunnel stations (Karanga-a-Hape → Waitematā) | ~15 tph | Every 4 min |
| Puhinui → Ōtāhuhu (inner Southern/Eastern) | ~12 tph | Every 5 min |
| Sylvia Park → Ōrākei | ~12 tph | Every 5 min |
| Penrose → Newmarket | ~12 tph | Every 5 min |
| Swanson → Maungawhau (Western section) | ~7–8 tph | Every 8 min |
| Papakura → Homai | ~7–8 tph | Every 8 min |
| Pukekohe → Drury | ~6 tph | Every 10 min |
| Parnell | ~4 tph | Every 15 min |
| Onehunga → Te Papapa (O-W Line) | ~2 tph | Every 30 min |
🚇 Note for Western Line users: When the CRL opens, people travelling from western stations who want to reach Grafton or Newmarket will need to change at Karanga-a-Hape Station to a South-City Line service during peak hours. Off-peak, the Onehunga-West Line provides a direct connection. Always check at.govt.nz for the latest.