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. The City Rail Link has transformed the network into a through-running metro system, with trains running straight through the city centre instead of terminating at Waitematā.
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.
💡 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.
City Rail Link — now open
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.
New underground stations
New line names and routes
🔴 South City Line (S-C) — Pukekohe to Waitematā and Newmarket
Stations: Pukekohe · Paeraatā · Drury · Papakura · Takaanini · Te Māhia · Manurewa · Homai · Puhinui · Papatoetoe · Middlemore · Ōtāhuhu · Penrose · Ellerslie · Greenlane · Remuera · Newmarket · Grafton · Karanga-a-Hape · Te Waihorotiu · Waitematā · Parnell · Newmarket (loop)
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. Shares the Puhinui–Ōtāhuhu corridor with the East West Line.
Frequency: Every 4–5 minutes through the CRL inner stations · every 8–10 minutes Pukekohe to Homai · every 5 minutes Puhinui to Ōtāhuhu (combined with East West Line) · every 15 minutes at Parnell
🔵 East West Line (E-W) — Swanson to Manukau
Stations: Swanson · Ranui · Sturges Rd · Henderson · Sunnyvale · Glen Eden · Fruitvale Rd · New Lynn · Avondale · Baldwin Ave · Morningside · Kingsland · Maungawhau · Karanga-a-Hape · Te Waihorotiu · Waitematā · Ōrākei · Meadowbank · Glen Innes · Panmure · Sylvia Park · Ōtāhuhu · Middlemore · Papatoetoe · Puhinui · 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 Line 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 (combined with South City Line)
🟡 Onehunga West Line (O-W) — Onehunga to Maungawhau / Henderson
Stations (peak): Onehunga · Te Papapa · Penrose · Ellerslie · Greenlane · Remuera · Newmarket · Grafton · Maungawhau
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
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 → Waitematā | ~7–8 tph | Every 8 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.
Tips for train travel
