South Auckland’s newest railway stations have officially opened, returning passenger services to Drury and Paerātā for the first time since 1972 according to 1News. The formal opening ceremony was held this afternoon, led by Rail Minister Winston Peters and Transport Minister Chris Bishop. Commuters across Franklin and the wider South Auckland region will see passenger services resume tomorrow, marking a major milestone for regional transport.
Drury and Paerātā Stations Open With Peak Services Running Every 10 Minutes
Regular weekday peak services are scheduled to run from the newly opened Drury and Paerātā stations every 10 minutes starting Monday according to 1News. Each station features two platforms, 350 car parks, and dedicated bus connections to support the anticipated influx of travelers. Additionally, two new Auckland Transport bus services will begin operating on Sunday, connecting Paerātā Rise and Ramarama directly with the rail network. Auckland Transport’s timetable shows the first passenger train is set to depart Pukekohe at 6.11am on Sunday, stopping at Paerātā at 6.17am and Drury at 6.25am before arriving in the city centre at 7.24am.
Government Officials Highlight Infrastructure and Regional Growth
During the opening event, Rail Minister Winston Peters emphasized the necessity of proactive planning for Auckland’s expanding population. “Around 130,000 more people are expected in this part of Auckland over coming decades, and infrastructure must come before growth – not years afterwards, as too often happens in this country,” Peters said, as reported by 1News. Peters also noted that the stations were funded when his administration was last responsible for rail, forming part of a wider commitment to unlock capacity, lift frequencies, invest more than $500 million to bring the network up to standard, and enable electric trains from Britomart down to Pukekohe.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop stated that the projects rank among the final developments completed under the Government’s $2.4 billion investment in Auckland’s rail network. “The Auckland Rail Network Rebuild has been completed in time for the City Rail Link (CRL) to open soon. We’re also replacing level crossings across the network to support more frequent train services,” Bishop said. He added that the Third Main Line is now open to separate freight and passenger rail services, while the line to Pukekohe has been fully electrified to give people better transport choices.
Future Expansion and What May Happen Next
With Drury and Paerātā now operational, the stations represent the first two of three new facilities currently being built between Papakura and Pukekohe according to 1News. A third station at Ngākōroa is scheduled to open in 2027.