Auckland's first new rail line in 82 years has begun operating, bringing commuter trains into Manukau's city centre.
The service, which started on Sunday, will allow residents in the South Auckland suburb to connect to central Auckland within 40 minutes - half the time it takes by bus.
Auckland mayor Len Brown believes 600,000 people will pass through the Manakau station each year, making it the second biggest in the city after Britomart in the CBD.
The $100 million station, which is still under construction, has been mostly funded by the Manukau Institute of Technology which is building a $95 million campus above it.
There will be three trains an hour during peak periods and one train an hour off peak.
