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Hibiscus Coast commuters will gain easier access to Auckland’s rail network when the long-awaited City Rail Link begins carrying passengers on Sunday, September 13 – although the journey from the Coast will still begin by bus via the Northern Express.
The NX1 will travel from Hibiscus Coast Station along the Northern Busway to Lower Albert Street, close to Waitematā Station. Peak-time NX2 services also extend to Hibiscus Coast Station, travelling to Wellesley Street and the university area, near the new Te Waihorotiu Station.
This means Coast passengers will be able to transfer from the bus to the expanded rail network at either the downtown or midtown end of the city.
The $5.493 billion City Rail Link (CRL)includes 3.45km of twin tunnels connecting Waitematā Station with the redeveloped Maungawhau Station. Two new underground stations – Te Waihorotiu, with entrances on Victoria and Wellesley Streets, and Karanga-a-Hape, with entrances at Beresford Square and Mercury Lane – have also been built.
The opening will turn Waitematā from the end of the line into a through-station, allowing trains to continue beneath the city centre.
Auckland’s existing rail services will be reorganised into three lines. The South City Line will travel from Pukekohe through the central city, while the East West Line will connect Swanson and Manukau through the CRL. The Onehunga West Line will run between Onehunga and Henderson during off-peak periods, and between Onehunga and Maungawhau at peak times.
For Coast residents, the main benefit will be a wider choice of destinations after reaching the city. Passengers arriving downtown on the NX1 will be able to connect with trains serving Karangahape Road, midtown, west, south and east Auckland, rather than relying entirely on another city bus.
Auckland Transport (AT) has not published a specific estimate of how much time Coast passengers may save.
Passengers can preview journeys using the future-travel function in the AT Journey Planner or AT Mobile app. AT is also advising bus users to check their journeys before September 13, as timetable adjustments are being made across parts of the wider network.
Additional staff and ambassadors will be stationed around the network during opening weekend to help passengers find the new stations and connections. Details of opening celebrations and special services are expected to be announced closer to the date.
