Two brand-new railway stations in South Auckland opened on 2 August 2026, restoring passenger rail to communities that lost it in 1972 — a NZ$300 million project with park-and-ride, bus transfers, and 10-minute peak services.
South Auckland got two new railway stations on Sunday 2 August 2026, and with them, something residents had not had for more than half a century: a direct train ride to the city centre. The new Drury and Paerātā stations, built by KiwiRail on Auckland's Southern Line, mark the first passenger rail service to reach these communities since the original stations closed in 1972.
Why These Stations Matter
Auckland's southern corridor — Franklin and the Drury–Paerātā growth area — is one of New Zealand's fastest-developing residential zones. For decades, tens of thousands of new residents have moved in without any rail connection, pushing car traffic on the Southern Motorway to its limits. The two stations plug that gap, connecting south Auckland to the existing rapid-transit network for the first time in 54 years.
The project cost approximately NZ$300 million and was funded by the New Zealand government through KiwiRail.
What Each Station Offers
Both Drury and Paerātā stations were built to a consistent modern standard. Each one provides two platforms for bi-directional services, up to 350 park-and-ride car spaces, secure bike and motorbike parking, and dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas for ride-hailing and private vehicles.
Auckland Transport also launched two new connecting bus services on opening day, running through Paerātā Rise, Ramarama, Waiuku, Glenbrook, and Drury. Passengers changing between a bus and a train within 30 minutes pay no extra fare — the integrated fare structure means a single tagged-on journey covers the entire trip.
Train Frequency and Connections
Services run from early morning to late evening seven days a week, with additional late-night trains on Friday and Saturday nights. During weekday peak hours, trains depart every 10 minutes.
From either station, commuters can reach central Auckland, Middlemore Hospital, and — via a connection at Puhinui — Auckland Airport on the AirportLink service. The Southern Line already connects through Papakura, Manurewa, and Ōtāhuhu before reaching Britomart in the CBD.
City Rail Link: The Next Upgrade
When the City Rail Link (CRL) — Auckland's underground rail tunnel through the CBD — opens, both Drury and Paerātā will be served by the new South-City Line. CRL will lift peak frequency to every 10 minutes, off-peak to every 15 minutes, and night services to every 30 minutes, while adding direct through-running to destinations west of the city centre that currently require a transfer at Britomart.
A Pattern Cities Recognise
Reopening stations that closed decades ago is a pattern playing out worldwide — from the Borders Railway in Scotland (reopened 2015 after 46 years) to India's revival of disused rail corridors near growing cities. Auckland's experience echoes what Bengaluru is seeing with its own metro expansion: fast-growing suburban areas that were planned around road transport are now being retrofitted with rail, and the demand on opening day typically exceeds projections.
For Auckland's south, the 54-year wait is over. The trains are running.
Sources
- Auckland Transport — New Drury and Paerātā Railway Stations to Open on Sunday 2 August
- New Zealand Government — New Drury and Paerātā Stations Open for South Auckland
- NEWS WIRE — Trains Return to Drury and Paerātā After 54 Years at a Cost of $300 Million
- 1News — New Drury and Paerātā Railway Stations Open in South Auckland