An Auckland passenger rail service opened for the first time in 37 years today, part of a 25 percent increase in train services in the city.

Trains will from today run to Onehunga, near the northern coast of Manukau Harbour, on a line disused since 1973.

The line will include new stations at Onehunga and Te Papapa before joining the Southern Line tracks just north of Penrose. A new platform has also been built at Penrose, near to the current Penrose station on the Southern Line.

On weekdays there will be 25 services from Onehunga to Britomart and 24 services going the other way. On Saturdays there will be 17 citybound services and 16 Onehunga-bound services, while Sundays and public holidays will have 15 citybound and 14 Onehunga-bound trains.

Auckland Regional Transport Authority chairman Rabin Rabindran said the Onehunga line introduction was part of a large-scale increase in train services in Auckland from today.

"The new rail timetable will accommodate more than 400 extra train trips a week across Auckland. This is approximately a 25 percent increase in services, the biggest increase in train services in recent times in Auckland."

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee said it was satisfying that Queen St in Auckland was once again linked by rail to Onehunga.

Transport is a major issue in this year's Auckland Super City elections, with one poll published in the Weekend Herald showing more than half of 300 Aucklanders surveyed in a street poll would be prepared to see rates go up to play for a new rail link to Auckland International Airport, which could go via Onehunga.

As well as the new train services, the $36 million upgrade to the rail-bus interchange station at New Lynn in west Auckland was unveiled today.

NZPA