New Zealand opens country's first Underground City Rail Link in Auckland

Auckland, New Zealand (Rail & Metro Today): New Zealand has entered a new era of urban rail transport with the opening of Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL), the country’s first underground urban railway. After nearly a decade of construction, the landmark project officially opened on September 11, 2026, with the first passenger trains travelling through the new tunnels on September 13.

The City Rail Link is New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project to date and has fundamentally changed the way Auckland’s railway network operates. Rather than terminating in the heart of the city, trains can now travel through central Auckland and continue towards other parts of the network.

The 3.45-kilometre twin-tunnel railway connects Waitematā Station in central Auckland with Maungawhau Station in Mount Eden. At its deepest point, the new underground infrastructure is approximately 42 metres below ground level.

Two New Underground Stations

The project includes two new underground stations, Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape, while Waitematā and Maungawhau stations have been rebuilt and upgraded to accommodate the new rail configuration.

The new tunnels and stations form a critical link through Auckland’s central area, creating a through-running railway where trains previously ended their journeys at Waitematā, formerly known as Britomart.

This change is expected to improve train frequencies, reduce journey times and significantly increase the overall capacity of Auckland’s rail network. It also changes passenger movement patterns by allowing services to cross the city rather than requiring passengers and trains to terminate and turn around in the central business district.

For passengers travelling from western Auckland, the new configuration removes the previous need for some services to travel via Newmarket before reaching the city centre. The journey between Henderson and Te Waihorotiu is expected to take around 35 minutes.

Other journey-time improvements are also significant. The trip from Panmure to Karanga-a-Hape is expected to take approximately 21 minutes, around 14 minutes faster than before. The journey from Ellerslie to Karanga-a-Hape is expected to take about 17 minutes, representing a saving of approximately 19 minutes.

€2.75 Billion Investment in Auckland Rail

The City Rail Link represents an investment of approximately USD 5.5 billion, equivalent to around €2.75 billion, making it one of the most ambitious transport infrastructure programmes ever undertaken in New Zealand.

The concept of constructing an underground railway through central Auckland is not new. Plans for such a connection have been discussed for around a century, but the project eventually moved from long-term ambition to construction and delivery.

The new infrastructure has been designed with Auckland’s future growth in mind. It can accommodate longer electric trains of up to nine railcars, providing additional capacity as passenger demand increases.

“The opening of Auckland’s City Rail Link demonstrates how a strategically planned urban rail project can transform the structure and operation of an entire metropolitan transport network. The shift from a terminal railway to a through-running system can improve connectivity, increase capacity and create new opportunities for integrated urban development. Auckland’s experience also highlights the importance of designing major metro and rail infrastructure with future passenger growth and network expansion in mind,” said Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO, Urban Infra Group.

Mott MacDonald’s Long-Term Role

Engineering and consultancy firm Mott MacDonald has been involved in the City Rail Link project since 2012, serving as its lead technical consultant.

The company contributed to the conceptual and detailed design stages, authorisation and procurement processes and construction activities. Its involvement covered a wide range of technical disciplines, including railway systems, stations, structures, utilities and safety.

During the final stages, Mott MacDonald supported City Rail Link Limited with testing and commissioning activities, including the integration of railway control, fire safety and communications systems.

The consultant also assisted with the handover of the completed infrastructure to Auckland Transport and KiwiRail, which are responsible for the ownership and operation of the relevant assets. By the end of June 2026, practical handover activities had been substantially completed, allowing the stations and tunnels to enter the final testing and operational preparation phase.

A New Chapter for Auckland Rail

The opening of the City Rail Link represents more than the completion of New Zealand’s first underground urban railway. It fundamentally changes the operating pattern of Auckland’s rail system.

For the first time, trains can travel through the centre of Auckland rather than simply reaching it as the end of a journey. The resulting through-running network is expected to provide higher capacity, faster connections and improved access to the central city.

As Auckland continues to grow, the CRL provides a foundation for future rail expansion and increased use of public transport. The project therefore marks an important milestone not only for Auckland but also for New Zealand’s wider urban mobility ambitions.