Like its southern counterpart, the Capital Connection between Palmerston North and Wellington, the service was operated by Tranz Scenic and run as a commercial venture.

The service commenced as a six-month trial[2] on Thursday 26 June 2000 and was primarily aimed at business people who regularly commuted to work in Auckland.

[3] It used Silver Fern railcars with full onboard catering and stopped at the intermediate stations of Huntly, Pukekohe, Papakura, Middlemore, and Newmarket.

[4] Tranz Scenic reported that the Waikato Connection was "the most unprofitable service" but that they would be prepared to consider retaining it with community support which they expected would be needed for about three years.

[5] At the time of its cancellation the Waikato Connection was being patronised by an average of 129 passengers per trip, most of whom boarded at Pukekohe or Papakura,[9] with only about 30 of those travelling the full distance between Hamilton and Auckland.