Aucklanders have been getting their first chance to see inside the new City Rail Link, with a busy turnout for the first of a series of public open day events at new railway stations - this one at Maungawhau Station.City Rail Link (CRL) is country's largest transport infrastructure project to date, with about three and a half kilometres of tunnels and costing $5.5b. It has been long-awaited and is scheduled to open on 13 September, with promises to speed up and modernise public transport in the sprawling city.But before it opens, a series of public 'First Look' weekend events are on offer in August, with the first at the new Maungawhau Station (formerly Mount Eden Station) between Mount Eden and Eden Terrace, on Saturday.Food and activities were set up in the surrounding streets, with busking and community performances inside the train station. A steady stream of people had been coming in to have a look, Auckland Transport CRL communications manager Joel Rowan said, mid-morning on Saturday."There's a stage set up, we've got the local community really part of this. A local school kapa haka group has actually just been warming up. We've had heaps of interest in today, and everyone just seems to be just really enjoying it."I think people are relieved. Last night we had some of the locals and local businesses in here for a little preview of today's event. And they've really been hanging out - not just for today, but for the project to open."This station [has] been closed since 2020 for the construction. So I know that everyone's really looking forward to I guess getting the benefits when the opening finally does arrive on the 13th of September."Maungawhau Station on SaturdayRNZ/ Lucy XiaWest Auckland resident Harrison Fernandes-Burnard said he is expecting the CRL will take about 20 minutes off his daily commute."The old Mount Eden Station was quite basic, rustic you could say - but yeah it's amazing ... there's now four platforms and it's really spacious." It had changed a lot, and was a good advertisement for the city, he said.Irene Pang and her grandson Christian Yeung travelled from Meadowlands in East Auckland for the First Look event. Pang hopes there will be more frequent buses to Panmure Station from where she lives.Yueng said he was excited about taking the train during school holidays and better connections to western parts of the cityIrene Pang and her grandson Christian Yeung, at the event at Maungawhau Station on Saturday morning.RNZ/ Lucy XiaBefore the old Mt Eden Station closed, the journey downtown from Maungawhau Station to what is now Waitematā Station (formerly Britomart) took about 20 minutes, travelling through Newmarket, Auckland Transport's Joel Rowan said.It now takes about 10 minutes, or even less for either of the two new closer central stations: just a couple of minutes to Karanga-a-Hape Station, or about seven minutes to Te Waihorotiu Station near the Sky Tower. While people going to or from the westerns suburbs will find their trips much faster using the CRL, Rowan said.At Maungawhau Station on SaturdayLucy Xia / RNZMany rehearsals and trials of the rail schedule had been carried out ahead of the full CRL opening, with big attendance expected from the first day.Auckland Transport's website said the new Maungawhau Station was visually striking, and "combines world-class transport infrastructure with thoughtful design inspired by the surrounding volcanic landscape and deep cultural connections to nearby maunga.""Its dramatic architecture, natural materials and spacious platforms create a station experience unlike anything else in Auckland."Maungawhau Station on SaturdayRNZ/ Lucy XiaOngoing CRL 'First Look' events are planned for Saturday 15 August at Karanga-a-Hape Station and Saturday 22 August at Te Waihorotiu Station, with a succession of one hour tours available on each day starting from 8am.Auckland Transport said people planning to attend should apply ahead for tickets, which are free.A new Journey Planner tool is also available online, to help Aucklanders plan for the new timetables when the CRL opens.Maungawhau Station on SaturdayRNZ/ Lucy XiaMaungawhau Station (formerly Mt Eden) before its official opening, August 2026.Lucy Xia / RNZ