City Rail Link Opens

AM 552 stops at Karanga-a-Hape Platform 2 heading for Swanson

13 September 2026

Back at Maungawhau, this time in daylight, AM 552 stops en route to Swanson

13 September 2026

Trailing AM 552, AM 904 heads out of Maungawhau station heading for Swanson

13 September 2026

Maungawhau station entrance, viewed during daylight hours

13 September 2026

AM 1059 heads out of the City Rail Link and into the trench platforms at Maungawhau

13 September 2026

Heading for Swanson, AM 1059 pulls into Maungawhau station

13 September 2026

AM 1059 departs Maungawhau station, about to tackle the steep grade out of the trench to meet the North Auckland Line

13 September 2026

Trailing the train, AM 238 heads out of Maungawhau, next stop Kingsland. All South-City and East-West Line trains were running as 6-car trains to cope with the expected demand in passengers wanting to explore the City Rail Link

13 September 2026

AM 238 heads out of Maungawhau station up the grade out of the trench

13 September 2026

The grade of the trench is very visible here, with different parts of the train at different angles as it climbs out

13 September 2026

AM 1059 and AM 238 crest the grade out of Maungawhau onto the North Auckland Line

13 September 2026

AM 497 comes down the grade into Maungawhau station as it arrives with an East-West service to Manukau

13 September 2026

The front carriage starts levelling off as the train pulls into Maungawhau station

13 September 2026

A telephoto shot shows the train at two different angles as it pulls into Maungawhau

13 September 2026

AM 497 pulls into Maungawhau station heading for Manukau

13 September 2026

Back again at Te Waihorotiu, AM 1223 pulls into Platform 2 heading for Pukekohe

13 September 2026

AM 1223 exchanges passengers at Te Waihorotiu on a South-City Line service to Pukekohe

13 September 2026

AM 1223 pauses at Te Waihorotiu heading for Pukekohe

13 September 2026

Bringing up the rear of that service, AM 1127 disappears into the bored portion of the tunnel

13 September 2026

And finally back at Karanga-a-Hape, AM 306 pulls into the platform on an East-West Line service to Manukau

13 September 2026

AM 306 pulls into Karanga-a-Hape station en route to Manukau

13 September 2026

AM 306 arrives at Karanga-a-Hape station on an East-West Line service to Manukau

13 September 2026

On the second day of the CRL being open, and the first weekday, AM 714 stops at Karanga-a-Hape station heading for Newmarket

14 September 2026

Bringing up the rear of the train, unwrapped AM 471 trails as it heads out of Karanga-a-Hape towards Newmarket

14 September 2026

With Day 1 excitement over, but still plenty of passengers looking around on their first commute with the new system, we're able to get better views of the new stations. In this view, escalators from ground level bring passengers into the concourse underneath Beresford Square, which contains ticket machines, customer service and toilets

14 September 2026

Heading up the escalators to ground level at Beresford Square

14 September 2026

The Karanga-a-Hape station entrance at Beresford Square

14 September 2026

Behind the station entrance is a ventilation building and public toilets

14 September 2026

Near the station is standard AT-style wayfinding signs, including to Karanga-a-Hape station itself

14 September 2026

Heading back in, we start descending the escalators back into the concourse. The digital sign to the right of this hanging sign shows an emergency message when the station needs to be evacuated, as it was briefly on Day 1

14 September 2026

Among the rotating ads on the digital billboards is AT's own advertising, welcoming passengers on board in the City Rail Link

14 September 2026

Back down on platform level, AM 1061 arrives at Karanga-a-Hape, coming out of the bored tunnel and into the station box, en route for Pukekohe

14 September 2026

AM 1061 emerges from the tunnel and into Karanga-a-Hape station as it runs a South City Line service to Pukekohe

14 September 2026

On the rear of the train, AM 375 stops at Karanga-a-Hape Platform 2 as it heads for Pukekohe

14 September 2026

At the other end of the platform, AM 469 approaches the stop mark on an East West Line service heading for Swanson

14 September 2026

In the corridor between platforms, maps, signage and next train displays help passengers find their way

14 September 2026

Viewed from the passageway between platforms, AM 294 leads AM 714 pulling into Platform 2

14 September 2026

Perfectly lined up, AMT 714 shows its round AT logo in the middle of the round corridor

14 September 2026

AM 714 comes to a stop at Karanga-a-Hape Platform 2

14 September 2026

Now at Maungawhau, AM 253 and AM 157 run an East-West Line service towards Swanson, viewed from near the rear of the train

14 September 2026

Windows on the footbridge allow this view of AM 253 on Platform 2 at Maungawhau, shortly before it exits the trench

14 September 2026

Viewed from the Fenton Street footbridge, all four platforms of Maungawhau are visible in this view. The East West Line runs through the trench on the left, with the Onehunga West Line serving the ground level island platform on the right

14 September 2026

The island platform serving Onehunga West trains at Maungawhau. This platform is in the location of the original Mt Eden station

14 September 2026

AM 1155 and AM 266 in the trench at Maungawhau, shortly before entering the City Rail Link tunnels

14 September 2026

AM 172 and AM 362 exit the trench at Maungawhau, shortly before joining the North Auckland Line

14 September 2026

AM 172 and AM 362 exit the trench at Maungawhau and enter the North Auckland Line. Around the corner is the George Street level crossing, which can be heard from the bridge

14 September 2026

AM 172 and AM 362 straddle the NAL and NIMT as it heads out of the trench and towards Swanson

14 September 2026

At Maungawhau, AM 917 arrives at Platform 4 on an Onehunga West service, en route to its off-peak destination of Henderson

14 September 2026