Aucklanders wondering when they will become inhabitants of "the world's most liveable city" have suffered a triple-serving of key service meltdowns in one week.

Len Brown hitched up his pants. Well, he thought, here we go. Here we go again. He surveyed the scene before him like Caesar in the senate of Rome.

A broken-down train caused delays to all services in and out of Auckland's Britomart station, with commuters describing "total chaos" this morning.

The Government and the Auckland Council are at loggerheads over a start date for the $2.4b underground City Rail Link, and that's only going to add to the cost.

The Auckland Council has voted to put back a start on the City Rail Link, after a 2015 start was considered too much of a stretch by the Auditor-General.

Police are trying to determine the identity of a person who was hit by a train in South Auckland this morning.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is locking future ratepayers into paying at least $90 million a year for operational costs once trains begin using the City Rail Link some time from 2021.

Auckland Transport is under pressure to safeguard a rail route from Onehunga to the airport before the NZ Transport Agency builds a $140 million motorway extension.

Government transport officials are urging their political masters to support an early start to Auckland's $2.4 billion underground rail project.

Auckland's $2.4 billion underground rail project may get a push-along from the Government if it follows advice from its Transport Agency.

City Rail Link a game-changing piece of infrastructure that will reduce traffic, revitalise suburban town centres and unlock Auckland's potential.

Public fear around crippling rate increases is real. An expediential rise in the cost of growth associated with the proposed Unitary Plan is leaving Auckland panicked.

Auckland Council's budget committee has voted 16-7 for a proposal to increase rates by 3.5 per cent for each year of a new 10-year budget.

The $2.4b City Rail Link could be deferred until 2020 because of mounting concerns by councillors about its impact on rates, debt and big cuts to community services.

Auckland Council wants to talk to the new Govt about special taxes, including road charges and vehicle congestion charges, to fund its transport programme.

Metro rail systems such as Auckland's proposed $2.4b link from Britomart to Mt Eden do nothing to reduce congestion in the long run, says a visiting transport expert.

Political parties are tailoring all manner of policies for Auckland, or more precisely at 1,030,125 enrolled Jafas, to win their vote.

Auditor-General Lyn Provost is holding off commenting on the $2.4b city rail link until details of the project appear in a new 10-year budget for the Super City.

Shandelle Battersby watches Australia go by as she rides The Ghan from Top End to bottom.

Enjoy snow-capped ranges, striking glaciers and exotic wildlife from the comfort of a carriage, writes Pamela Wade.

Prime Minister John Key says if Winston Peters holds the balance of power after the election, he believes the NZ First leader will exercise it responsibly and not force New Zealand back into an election.