AM class introduction

Auckland mayor Len Brown boards AM 116 on the train's first opportunity to carry the general public

27 April 2014

People wowed by the new train as it climbs to Newmarket

27 April 2014

The EMUs have better ways for staff to make announcements; instead of stretching to reach a fixed microphone as in the SAs, a telephone handset is used

27 April 2014

Auckland Transport also used the day to introduce new uniforms for onboard staff

27 April 2014

An AT girl walks through the train handing out lollies, wearing a futuristic costume

27 April 2014

AM 116 stands at Britomart after making a return run to Newmarket. 5000 tickets for the shuttles were given out by AT three weeks before the open day

27 April 2014

Crowds of people admire AM 116 at Britomart

27 April 2014

Entertainment was also provided at Takutai Square. Here, children run after bubbles blown by a fairy

27 April 2014

Screens in the tent at Takutai Square. Auckland Transport were using a photo sourced from nzrailphotos on their promotional items and displays

27 April 2014

The human level crossings watch people queueing for train rides

27 April 2014

Bouncy castles for children were also provided

27 April 2014

A paint by numbers was also available

27 April 2014

Painting AM 103

27 April 2014

Down the line, AM 129 descends the Parnell bank on a return run from Newmarket

27 April 2014

The other unit used for the day, AM 116, ascends the Parnell bank past Auckland's iconic Sky Tower

27 April 2014

AM 116 descends the bank past Mainline Steam, representing the past

27 April 2014

A side on view of AM 116

27 April 2014

AM 129 ascends past Mainline Steam on another return trip

27 April 2014

The quietness of the EMUs disappeared briefly as DC 4381 screams up the Parnell bank

27 April 2014

An AM unit crosses the endangered Sarawia Street crossing

27 April 2014

The same unit departing Newmarket

27 April 2014

The sleek lines of the AM show as the train cruises to Britomart

27 April 2014

An AM unit at Newmarket station

27 April 2014

A truck climbs Symonds Street with a freshly delivered AM power carriage, possibly a part of AM 240 or AM 253

6 May 2014

The truck passes other motorists passing through the University of Auckland. The units are trucked to Wiri depot for a multitude of reasons, one being that the units won't fit through the port underpass

6 May 2014

SD 3199 and AM 240 stand side by side at Britomart, with the latter on a test run

25 June 2014

AM 240 awaits departure from Britomart

25 June 2014

AM 240 and diesel dinosaur DC 4369 at Britomart

25 June 2014

With the limitations of rushed night photography evident, AM 266 coasts down the grade into Manukau station on an early morning test run

10 August 2014

A clearer view of AM 266 in the station trench. No access to the platforms is given after hours

10 August 2014

Another AM unit quietly sneaks into Panmure station

10 August 2014

The unidentified, but serviceable, unit stopped at Panmure

10 August 2014

AM 144 stops at Meadowbank on one of the last runs for the night. Similar tests to the harmonics tests a few weeks ago were being carried out

10 August 2014

AM 266 crosses AM 144 at Meadowbank

10 August 2014

AM 266 heads south out of Meadowbank

10 August 2014

AM 253 at Ellerslie on its last test run, before diverging onto the Onehunga Branch and beginning passenger service for the day

10 August 2014

After testing for the night was complete, AM 225 passes through Papatoetoe empty

10 August 2014

After dark, AM 375 stops at Avondale on a Western Line test run, just days after the first unit visited Swanson

15 October 2014

AM 375 gets under way from Avondale, taking off much faster than anything seen before at the station

15 October 2014

AM 266 stops at Takanini station on a one-off day of EMU services to Papakura

31 January 2015

AM 266 framed between the level crossing alarms at Takanini

31 January 2015

AM 266 powers away from Takanini towards Papakura

31 January 2015

The other AM unit out south, AM 131, arrives at Te Mahia station. Services not run by these two units were run by diesel trains

31 January 2015

AM 131 and AM 266 cross at Te Mahia

31 January 2015

AM 266 passes the only mechanical bells on the electrified Southern Line at Te Mahia

31 January 2015

AM 266 passes under Great South Road

31 January 2015

Despite a level crossing death at Morningside just days previously, some people still don't get the message as AM 131 pulls into Homai

31 January 2015

AM 131 stops at Homai

31 January 2015