Mayor Len Brown is battling to convince the Government to fund his railway plans but new research shows two out of three Aucklanders back his vision.

According to Research New Zealand, 63 per cent of Aucklanders surveyed are in favour of the link, while 29 per cent were against it and eight percent didn't care.

The $2.86 billion project is to be the centrepiece of a transport system overhaul Brown hopes will future-proof the city and make it easier to get around.  

It was signed off by the council last month and legal processes are underway to secure buildings and land needed.

The proposed 3.5km underground track will link the western line with Britomart and new stations will be built at Newton, Aotea Square and Karangahape Rd.

Brown believes the city rail link, network electrification and 57 new electric trains will bring economic and transport benefits of up to $3.8 billion to our economy.

 "The vast majority of Aucklanders understand just how critical this piece of infrastructure is to the future of our city because it will reduce journey times across the entire rail network," Brown said.

"Common misconceptions that the benefits won't be felt beyond the central city are finally being dispelled and we can now move to an educated debate on how we pay for this and a number of other major infrastructure projects necessary to get our city moving."

Brown is relying on the government to fund half of the project but the National government has been shying away from an agreement and rejected a business case in 2010.  

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