City Rail Link: First Looks and Sneak Peeks

The first station the public was able to walk through is Maungawhau, the redeveloped Mt Eden station sitting on the new junction between the North Auckland Line and the North Island Main Trunk. We attended the Sneak Peek event the evening before the full-day First Look event the following day

7 August 2026

While heading to the main entrance building at Maungawhau, a look over the fence sees the rebuilt NAL platforms, in the original location of the Mt Eden station. These platforms will be used for the Onehunga-West Line, with services terminating here at peak hours

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At the main entrance to Maungawhau station, ticket holders scan their tickets for entry to look around the station. A limited number of free tickets were issued for each 1 hour session

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The first thing seen inside the station is this artwork made up from triangles, representing the mountain Maungawhau (Mt Eden) itself. This is made from basalt sourced from the local area, and glass inserts suggest lava from the volcano

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Looking closely at the triangular shapes sees water trickling down the walls

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Inside the station, signage from MOTAT showing historic images of the area sit in front of Platform 3, one of the Onehunga-West Line platforms

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Looking along Platform 3 at Maungawhau, showing both the active NAL Down Main and bike parking alongside the main building

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During the open day Platforms 3 and 4 were inaccessible as current Western Line services pass through the station without stopping. Here we see the escalators leading down to the platforms

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Looking the other way from the same spot, regular stairs lead down to the other end of the platforms

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In the foyer area between platforms was a model railway on display, put on by the Auckland Märklin Club

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Running on the layout was Thomas the Tank Engine and his carriages, one of many trains operating on the layout

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At the back of the layout was this basic stabling yard. A train arriving here would stop and a different train would be sent out in its place, providing variety in operations

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A freight train running around the layout at Maungawhau station

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Themed after the events, this AT-branded railcar made an appearance on the layout

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Looking out from behind the layout, the western end of the NAL platforms looking towards Swanson. Trains will only run beyond here at off-peak times

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Looking down the stairs from above the NAL platforms, heading down to the main station entrance

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During the open day, these escalators to the NIMT platforms were set to one way only, meaning visitors exited a different way

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Heading down onto the brand new NIMT platforms, a train sitting on each platform gives a view into the near future, with trains operating from here to Swanson and Manukau

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Looking back up the escalators back to the main entrance. In normal operation, these will run in opposite directions rather than forcing passengers to take a certain route

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The brand new NIMT platforms sit in an open trench, with the CRL tunnels starting at the end of the platforms. Here, we look towards Swanson, with AM 428 and AM 1005 occupying the platforms for display

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During the open day, lights were placed around the station for decorative effect

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AM 428 sits at Platform 2 at Maungawhau station. When in operation, this train would be heading towards Swanson on the East-West Line

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Looking along the line on Platform 2, heading out of the trench

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On Platform 1, lighting effects make the blank walls look a bit more interesting

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AM 1005 sits on Platform 1, simulating the departure of an East-West service to Manukau. From here, trains would enter the CRL towards Waitematā, then head via the current Eastern Line to Manukau

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AM 1005 shows off its next station of Karanga-a-Hape. This station, in addition to being the next stop on the line, will be next to have its open day the following weekend

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RGB lights were even placed inside the trains, set to switch between colours in a fade effect

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Looking along the interior of AM 1005 parked at Maungawhau station

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Looking out the doors of AM 1005 at the new Maungawhau station sign, and AM 428 on the other platform

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On board AM 1005, a TV set up at the end of the passenger area displays video about the City Rail Link

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AM 646 on an existing Western Line service passes over AM 428 simulating an East-West Line service. This location is one of the few in New Zealand where a railway line passes over another railway line, where a photo of a train over another train is possible

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Uptown promotions on board AM 428, including the chance to win a whole year of free public transport travel

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A giant HOP card and flyers advertising the free public transport giveaway

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Heading towards the tunnels, both trains on both platforms are 6-car trains, with AM 524 and AM 1155 as second units on display. Lifts during the events was for accessible pass holders only, although will be for everyone when the stations open

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AM 524 sitting in the trench at Maungawhau, with the station building rising above from ground level

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AM 1155 sits underneath the road bridge at Maungawhau, with an opportunity created for artwork on an otherwise blank space above the tracks

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On the floor of AM 1155 is a post-CRL network map

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The front of AM 1155 looks into the tunnel of the City Rail Link, with trains running underground from here for 3.5km all the way to Waitematā station

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RGB lights have also been placed in the tunnels, giving an interesting view of the track ahead

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AM 524 on the left and AM 1155 on the right both sit at Maungawhau station, simulating a stop at the station for display

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AM 524 looks at the track ahead, also fitted with RGB lights. At this point, the train would have just exited the tunnels

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AM 524 sits at Maungawhau Platform 2, during the Sneak Peek event

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During the open events, visitors exited Maungawhau station using these emergency stairs, usually locked to the public

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The opening of the emergency stairs gives this rate view of two trains at the platform, with AM 524 on the left and AM 1155 on the right

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Trains in the trench below ground, with the access road above the platforms and the station building rising behind. This rate view is only possible from the emergency stairs

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After dark, Maungawhau station building lights up as a landmark of the area

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The main access path from Maungawhau station to Mt Eden Road, for bus connections to other areas

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The NAL platforms viewed from Mt Eden Road, on our way home from the event

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