Justine Tyerman ends up with a squashed nose after travelling on Swiss trains ...

A prominent commercial real estate financier says land-bankers are ruining Auckland's central business district by leaving many sites vacant for decades.

Aucklanders face some tough choices on the costs and services of the Super City on their return from the festive season.

Aucklanders wondering when they will become inhabitants of "the world's most liveable city" have suffered a triple-serving of key service meltdowns in one week.

Len Brown hitched up his pants. Well, he thought, here we go. Here we go again. He surveyed the scene before him like Caesar in the senate of Rome.

A broken-down train caused delays to all services in and out of Auckland's Britomart station, with commuters describing "total chaos" this morning.

The Auckland Council has voted to put back a start on the City Rail Link, after a 2015 start was considered too much of a stretch by the Auditor-General.

Police are trying to determine the identity of a person who was hit by a train in South Auckland this morning.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is locking future ratepayers into paying at least $90 million a year for operational costs once trains begin using the City Rail Link some time from 2021.

If Auckland transport planners are seriously considering trams as a cheaper form of rail service to the airport, they should come to their senses.

Auckland Transport is under pressure to safeguard a rail route from Onehunga to the airport before the NZ Transport Agency builds a $140 million motorway extension.

Government transport officials are urging their political masters to support an early start to Auckland's $2.4 billion underground rail project.

Auckland's $2.4 billion underground rail project may get a push-along from the Government if it follows advice from its Transport Agency.

Auckland Council's budget committee has voted 16-7 for a proposal to increase rates by 3.5 per cent for each year of a new 10-year budget.

With half an eye on their re-election prospects, some Auckland councillors are having second thoughts about an early start to the City Rail Link.

The $2.4b City Rail Link could be deferred until 2020 because of mounting concerns by councillors about its impact on rates, debt and big cuts to community services.

Auckland Council wants to talk to the new Govt about special taxes, including road charges and vehicle congestion charges, to fund its transport programme.

Metro rail systems such as Auckland's proposed $2.4b link from Britomart to Mt Eden do nothing to reduce congestion in the long run, says a visiting transport expert.

Political parties are tailoring all manner of policies for Auckland, or more precisely at 1,030,125 enrolled Jafas, to win their vote.

Auditor-General Lyn Provost is holding off commenting on the $2.4b city rail link until details of the project appear in a new 10-year budget for the Super City.