Auckland’s long-awaited City Rail Link (CRL) won’t open to passengers until the second half of 2026, government and local leaders have confirmed.
Transport minister Chris Bishop, minister for Auckland Simeon Brown, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown and deputy mayor Desley Simpson jointly announced the timeline, saying the project remains on track but still requires extensive testing before it is ready for public use. \
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“New Zealand can look forward to the benefits this project will deliver next year. Streets and public spaces are reopening and we’re now transitioning from construction to testing and commissioning.”
“Opening an underground rail line is complex. There is a thorough programme of tests to make sure the CRL is safe, and that the new train timetable is reliable from day one,” Bishop said.
The CRL is New Zealand’s largest-ever transport infrastructure investment, a multi-billion-dollar underground rail line aimed at transforming central Auckland’s commuter experience.
