Auckland train trips increase following City Rail Link opening

Daily train trips in Auckland have increased by nearly 60 per cent in the two weeks since the City Rail Link opened. Total boardings since passenger services began on 13 September have reached 1,034,090, with 506,083 recorded in the second week. The first week of service saw 528,007 boardings, making it the busiest week in the history of the rail network.

The $5.5 billion project includes 3.45km of twin tunnels and three new stations, specifically Karanga-a-Hape and Te Waihorotiu. The project also involved redeveloping Mangawhau station and converting Waitematā station into a two-way thoroughfare. Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape are currently the second and third busiest stations on the network.

West Auckland has seen significant growth, with average daily trips between western stations and the city centre rising almost 173%. Journeys between the western and eastern rail corridors have tripled, and trips between stations south of Puhinui and the new stations have increased by almost 30%.

The shift to rail has impacted other modes, as patronage on the City Link bus service has fallen 17%. Total public transport trips, including ferries, buses, and trains, rose by 16 per cent over the same two-week period. Overall weekday bus patronage remained at more than 237,000 boardings.

Where reports differ

• One report states daily train trips are up nearly 60 per cent, while another specifies the increase was 59 per cent compared to the two weeks before opening

Compiled from reports by RNZ and Stuff.