Auckland commuters face a fortnight without train services as the city’s rail network closes from Saturday for maintenance and upgrade work.
The 16-day shutdown will see buses replace trains over the school holidays between April 12 and 27. The closure was first announced last year.
Auckland Transport (AT) has urged train passengers to plan their journeys ahead of time with fewer dedicated rail replacement buses operating during this closure.
Rail workers will be focused on maintenance, renewal, and upgrade projects, according to KiwiRail, which will help support the opening of the City Rail Link project next year.
“Passenger and freight trains won’t be running during this time of lower demand when schools and universities are closed, and many Aucklanders are on holiday,” a spokesperson said.
“The closure enables teams to build on the critical upgrades already completed and major infrastructure projects underway, to be ready for the faster, more frequent train services the City Rail Link will bring.”
Trackwork would happen “during nights and weekends, as well as days, to get more done in a shorter space of time”, according to a KiwiRail spokesperson.
“Full shutdowns allow KiwiRail access to the network in the most effective, efficient way, providing teams with uninterrupted access and allowing them to safely deliver intensive work that is only possible when there are no trains running.”
AT public transport and active modes director Stacey van der Putten said the agencies “appreciate the ongoing patience of our train passengers.”
She highlighted expected improvements from the works, including new higher frequency peak trains between Papakura and Pukekohe after the Easter works are finished.
Fewer rail replacement buses running – AT
Rail replacement buses would “get busy” during rush hour, van der Putten said.
Fewer express bus options would also be running as compared to January’s full network closure. At rush hour, rail buses would operate every 10 minutes following train lines, with an additional express service operating to some Southern line stations.
AT recommended passengers check whether they could use regular bus services.
“Aucklanders can depend on buses to get them where they need to go while trains aren’t running during the quieter Easter holiday period,” van der Putten told 1News.
“With a limited pool of extra drivers and suitable buses, we’re concentrating on delivering frequent and reliable rail replacement services for all train lines, stopping at all stations.
“We’ve identified there is still a need for an express bus for the Southern line and that will be running again during the closure, but the Panmure and Western line express services which we ran over the summer are already covered by our normal scheduled buses.
“We’re encouraging passengers to consider these buses as well, which will often meet their travel needs just as well as a rail replacement bus, if not better.”
She said: “Things will look a little different from the summer closure, with a few bus stop changes on the Western line and fewer express bus options, so please plan your journey before you travel.”
Freight usually moved on the rails would also be shifted to trucks, which KiwiRail said would increase traffic around its freight hub at Southdown.
