Drury and Paerātā Stations Open

At Drury station, an open day was held the day before services began, allowing the public to view the station. Here, we see the main entrance from Flanagan Road and the park and ride

1 August 2026

A closer view of the main entrance. Drury station is gated right from the start

1 August 2026

Viewed from near the bus stops, this entrance provides direct access to Platform 2 towards Pukekohe

1 August 2026

New bus stops on the Flanagan Road side are used for buses arriving from and departing towards Ramarama, which gets a bus service for the first time

1 August 2026

Drury station platforms viewed from Platform 2 towards Pukekohe

1 August 2026

AM 565 on a run from Pukekohe passing through Drury without stopping. Passenger services commence the following day, and the timetable introduced when Pukekohe station reopened allowed for time to stop at these two new stations

1 August 2026

We then head over the footbridge to the other side, towards Platform 1 to Waitematā

1 August 2026

Shortly afterwards, AM 402 passes through Drury, also not stopping on its way to Pukekohe

1 August 2026

AM 402 passes the crowds at Drury having a look at the station before it opens

1 August 2026

From Platform 1, this entrance provides direct access to Great South Road, as well as bus services connecting Auranga to Papakura

1 August 2026

Viewed from Great South Road, the sheltered entrance from Great South Road towards Platform 1

1 August 2026

With the imminent opening of the City Rail Link, Drury station has a transitional map design, showing the existing lines in full colour and the new CRL lines greyed out

1 August 2026

Drury station in its entirety seen from Great South Road

1 August 2026

New traffic lights on Great South Road provide easy access between Drury station and new bus Stop E on the other side of the road

1 August 2026

Drury station entrance, with new bus Stop D in view

1 August 2026

Drury station also features plenty of bike parking on both sides

1 August 2026

Drury station entrance with signage out the front, pointing passengers towards trans and buses as well as other nearby facilities

1 August 2026

The footbridge at Drury station viewed from ground level near Great South Road

1 August 2026

Later in the day, we visited Paerātā station during its opening hours. Here, we see the only currently functional entrance from the park and ride

1 August 2026

New bus stops at Paerātā station will connect the station to Paerātā Rise, Glenbrook, Waiuku and Patumahoe

1 August 2026

Paerātā station platforms viewed from the top of the hill

1 August 2026

Inside Paerātā station's main entrance

1 August 2026

We first headed down to Platform 2 towards Pukekohe, where plenty of people were checking out the new station

1 August 2026

Looking along the platforms towards Pukekohe

1 August 2026

Paerātā station also has the transition pre-CRL map on show

1 August 2026

Freshly repainted, AM 144 arrives at Paerātā station with government officials and media on board, having collected them from Drury station. The train is being greeted by the local Labour candidate for Port Waikato Matt Brachi

1 August 2026

Disembarking from the train, Rail Minister Winston Peters and Minister for Auckland Simon Watts arrive at Paerātā station for a media event

1 August 2026

Winston Peters chats to people on the platform with AM 144 in the background

1 August 2026

1 News and AT ambassadors on the platform at Paerātā watching the government officials that just arrived

1 August 2026

With the train now unloaded, AM 144 prepares to head to Pukekohe empty, to allow a following service to pass through

1 August 2026

AM 144 departs Paerātā station for the first ever time, heading to Pukekohe empty

1 August 2026

AM 144 departs Paerātā station for Pukekohe

1 August 2026

Showing off its fresh paint after an eventful trip to Wellington to have it done, AM 144 heads to Pukekohe empty

1 August 2026

A well-timed AM 1170 passes through Paerātā station in the other direction, passing at speed

1 August 2026

AM 1170 passes through Paerātā station, passing AM 144 on the way

1 August 2026

After being slightly delayed by AM 144 and its special guests, AM 1236 passes through Paerātā, on a regularly scheduled service to Pukekohe

1 August 2026

AM 1236 rolls through Paerātā station, while the government officials have gone upstairs for a media event

1 August 2026

AM 1236 passes underneath the footbridge at Paerātā, heading for Pukekohe non-stop from Papakura

1 August 2026

Running on yellow signals behind AM 144, AM 1236 cautiously passes through Paerātā station on its way to Pukekohe

1 August 2026

Afterwards, we head across the bridge to Platform 1

1 August 2026

Viewed from Platform 1 towards Waitematā, AM 334 heads south towards Pukekohe, passing through at speed

1 August 2026

AM 334 heads around the curve out of Paerātā station and underneath the new road bridge providing access to the station

1 August 2026

AM 334 disappears around the curve out of Paerātā

1 August 2026

Viewed from Platform 1, this entrance to Paerātā station currently goes nowhere, with the manual gate not available for use. The entrance was built in anticipation of a new road to be built here

1 August 2026

AM 1236 returns through Paerātā station, heading towards Waitematā

1 August 2026

People hanging around Platform 1 at Paerātā, including assistants to some of the government MPs

1 August 2026

After the media event, AM 144 pulls into Paerātā station to collect the officials and media, and return them to Drury station

1 August 2026

AM 144 pulls into Paerātā Platform 1 for the first passenger pickup at this platform

1 August 2026