Three carriages of the train derailed as the train was leaving the station, scaring passengers who described the incident as a a sudden shake "like a small earthquake".
Trains coming in and out of the Auckland station have been suspended indefinitely.
Three of the train's six carriages came off the tracks as it was leaving the station with 33 people onboard. There are no reports of injuries.
Passenger Charles Stewart was travelling on the eastern line heading into Britomart station when the train derailed.
Everything was going smoothly and then there was a sudden shake "like a small earthquake" as the train came off the tracks.
The passengers were stuck on the train for about 40 minutes, a lot of people were ringing in to work to let their bosses know they would be late, Stewart said.
All the passengers appeared to be unhurt - but were a little annoyed.
AUT student Kirstin Elphick was on board when the train derailed and felt "absolutely freaked out" when the brakes slammed on.
"It felt like it was going really, really fast... all of a sudden it stopped."
The train looked like it was leaning against the tunnel, Elphick said.
It was "really annoying" that more information was not provided before the passengers got off the carriage - they had no idea how long they would be there for.
An Auckland Council spokesperson confirmed the train had derailed at about 9.45am at the platform.The train was stuck upright, with about 33 onboard but there appeared to be no injuries.
"The first priority is to get people off the train."
Britomart station will remain closed while that happened and the power would be turned off, he said.
It was hoped operations could return to normal after the passengers were taken off the train as there was a spare platform that could be used, he said.
Auckland Transport confirmed train services have been temporarily stopped.
"Auckland Transport advises that three carriages (on a six-carriage train) have come off the tracks meaning that the train is immobile," a spokesman said.
"The incident occurred at low speed as it was leaving platform 2 at around 9.40am. The train remains upright and there are no injuries.
