Auckland Transport is playing the blame game over staffing issues disrupting the rail network.

At least 20 train services were cancelled yesterday and more this morning.

Chairman Lester Levy says a string of major events in Auckland has caused rostering issues and a shortage of drivers.

He's laying the blame squarely with operator Transdev.

"Ultimately we contract out these processes to operators and our management is working with them to ensure all these issues are dealt with."

However the issues do not seem to have swayed train commuters towards other transport options.

Over one and a half million journeys were made on the city's railway lines last month, the highest figure ever.

Levy is pleased with the progress, especially as many services are still provided by ageing diesel trains.

"They're unreliable and we have breakages around those and we're still in the commission phase of the electrification...there have been some issues that we have been dealing with around that."

Dr Levy says the transition from the old to the new trains means some short term pain for a lot of long-term gain.