Hefty patronage growth on Auckland trains is making the city's transport authority bullish about meeting the Government's conditions for an early star.

Auckland Transport is considering forming a special police force to improve safety on trains.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown's latest attempt to make an early start to the $2.86 billion City Rail Link in 2016 has been dismissed by the Transport Minister.

Properties worth $35 million have been bought to secure the route for Auckland's proposed $2.86 billion City Rail Link.

Speed controls on Auckland's new electric trains are overriding their drivers to make them slower than the diesel clunkers they are replacing for $520 million.

Auckland's Mayor explains: Even with the improvements in speed, capacity and service that electric trains will bring, Auckland faces the threat of crippling traffic congestion.

Auckland's gleaming new electric trains launched into business at 5.48am today - and quickly experienced delays.

Forty of the state-owned company's locomotives were taken out of action following the discovery of the potentially deadly material in a soundproofing compound inside one of the vehicles.

It was hard to believe we were whooshing through South Auckland at 112km/h between high-speed braking trials on the first electric train, writes Mathew Dearnaley.

Ninety years after Auckland's leaders began hankering after electric trains in 1923, the city is poised to join the world of modern rail transport.

The City Rail Link (CRL) is the key project in an integrated transport programme to keep Auckland moving as the city grows by more than 700,000 people during the next 30 years. courtesy Auckland Transport.

Auckland's first electric train is transported from the Ports of Auckland to its new home at Wiri Depot in the early hours of Monday 26th August. The new trains will be faster, quieter and more energy efficient, making rail travel an attractive option for the city's residents and visitors. For more information: http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/improving-transport/auckland-rail-upgrade/electric-trains

A proposed tunnel was rejected yesterday by the Conservation Minister - but that doesn't guarantee the thumbs down for a 41km monorail.

Rail supporters say transport chiefs are being short-sighted in wanting to close a station next to where hundreds of new homes are planned for South Auckland.

A downtown Auckland shopping centre will be demolished to make way for the multibillion-dollar Central Rail Link.

Transport chiefs celebrating Britomart's 10th birthday as an underground train station are looking forward to punching a big hole out from its western end.

Auckland's northwestern settlement of Waitakere is to lose passenger trains after more than 130 years.

Auckland rail patronage has slumped to below 10 million passengers trips over the past 12 months, dragging down overall public transport figures.

A train driver who failed to stop at a red signal has caused delays on the western line of Auckland's rail service today.

KiwiRail is taking all the blame forlast month's tragic accident at Morningside - yet the company is a state-owned enterprise required to operate as a successful business.

Fly-through the route of Auckland's proposed City Rail Link from Britomart to Mount Eden including the street route and proposed underground stations. courtesy YouTube/aucklandtransport

Taxpayers and ratepayers fork out more than $230 million a year to subsidise public transport in Auckland.

The future of Auckland's trams is on the line after a sudden decision by the council's waterfront agency to withdraw funds needed to keep them running.

It would make the inner city an attractive, convenient and interesting place to live and work, writes Michael Barnett and Kim Campbell.

The railway crossing which nearly claimed the life of a woman had been identified by authorities as a top priority for removal.

Auckland ferry operator Sealink says trains are gobbling up too much public money, depriving the two-harbour city of superior water transport.

Auckland Transport has quietly dropped a controversial feature of its $2.86 billion underground rail project.

The report does not show, nor claim to show, that the line is viable, only that a wider view of the net costs and benefits to NZ arguably should be considered, writes Stephen Selwood.