Fire at Waitematā station disrupts inaugural City Rail Link services in Auckland

Auckland's long-awaited City Rail Link began carrying passengers on Sunday, marking the debut of New Zealand's first underground rail system. The network, which includes new downtown stations Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape and upgrades to Maungawhau and Waitematā stations, saw its inaugural run at 4.57 am from Ōtāhuhu. Minutes later, a minor fire was spotted near the ceiling of Waitematā station, prompting emergency responders to intervene.

Auckland Transport chief executive Stacey van der Putten indicated a possible electrical short circuit as the cause. Authorities have cleared the area and are working to restore full service, with trains temporarily bypassing the station. The incident has led to delays and cancellations as the system recovers.