For nearly 100 years politicians have been talking about an inner city rail link. But for 100 years that's all it's been: talk, writes Rodney Hide.

The Prime Minister's reading of the politics of the issue is an implicit tribute to the effort of the departing mayor, Len Brown, as it was three years ago.

John Key's intention to fast-track the $1.25 billion East-West Connection and make it a project of national significance has been welcomed by transport and infrastructure groups.

Britomart station will hit train handling capacity this year. It can handle only 20 trains an hour, writes Len Brown. The City Rail Link allows us to increase this to 48 trains an hour.

Dominion Rd's business community says it would welcome visitors passing through its colourful precinct on trams from the airport to downtown Auckland.

Transdev Australasia, in association with Hyundai Rotem is the preferred operator for next year.

Rail rides are still alive thanks to dedicated societies, clubs and businesses that keep trains chugging, Kelly Lynch heads out on the rails.

For a city striving to be "world class", forcing the inter-city rail service out of Britomart to a jerry-built shipping container "kiosk", 1.4km away in the old shunting yards, is bizarre, writes Brian Rudman.

Auckland Transport is negotiating with four parties on the last remaining properties standing in the way of its $2.5 billion City Rail Link.

However, it had a much better 12 months to June 30 than a year earlier, improving EBITA 17 per cent to $91 million.

KiwiRail is defending an almost threefold Onehunga ground rent hike, saying it must take a commercial approach.

Auckland Transport is taking legal action to force owners of Eden Terrace properties to sell up for the $2.5 billion City Rail Link.

Auckland Transport is warning passengers of potential bedding-in glitches after it replaces diesel trains this morning with electrics.

Richard Prebble had better watch out. After three decades of perfecting his image as the bogeyman of the left, he's come up with a solution to Auckland's congestion woes, writes Brian Rudman.

The national rail network is an asset that should survive and be put to its best-possible use.

In a $14 billion transport budget a $100 million a year for rail to reduce road congestion is very sustainable, writes Richard Prebble.

A teenager charged after train surfing in Wellington has been made to meet a woman who lost her limbs in a train crash.

Things often get worse before they get better, but for long-suffering Auckland rail passengers the prelude to electric trains is beyond a joke.

Months of delays and cancellations on the city rail network have brought an acknowledgment of problems from Auckland Transport - coupled with a warning that it's not over yet.

A 21-year-old learner driver caught the attention of police when he decide to take his birthday present for a joy-ride on the railway line at Abbotsford.

Campaigners want Auckland Transport to grant rail services from Swanson to Waitakere a stay of execution.

Britomart users may soon have to jostle their way through crowded platforms to get on to backed-up rush-hour trains.

KiwiRail is gaining $400 million, but youth organisation Generation Zero is disappointed no extra funds are on offer to get more Aucklanders on trains.

Aucklanders facing a new transport rate are paying "far too much" to subsidise the city's trains.

Trains between Wellington and Ngaio have been suspended until further notice following a landslip just south of Crofton Downs.

Police believe they know the identity of a pedestrian who died when he was hit by a train in Auckland this morning.

A former National MP and author of The Good Lobbyist's Guide, has been getting in ministers' ears, urging them to stop subsidising the loss-making operations of KiwiRail.