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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.
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."
Work 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.
KiwiRail freight train (file picture). (Source: 1News)
"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."
Auckland Transport (AT) public transport and active modes director Stacey van der Putten said the agencies "appreciate the ongoing patience of our train passengers."
"As well as getting closer to being ready for the City Rail Link, we are also already starting to see the benefits of the work achieved during these extended closures.
"The electrification of the rail line to Pukekohe was completed during the summer closure, and following the Easter closure, peak services to Pukekohe will be doubled, running every 10 minutes."
Rail replacement buses would "get busy" during rush hour with fewer express bus options running as compared to January's full network closure, van der Putten said.
An AT Metro bus at Auckland's Panmure Station (file image). (Source: istock.com)
She recommended passengers check whether they could use regular bus services.
"We’ll be running full rail replacement bus services stopping at all train stations, as well as express buses on the Southern Line, which were well-used during the summer closure.
"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.
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown said the test run was "momentous" for both the city and the City Rail Link project.
New Zealand
Thu, Feb 13
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The station closed in August 2022 for KiwiRail to electrify the rail line ahead of three new train stations at Drury, Ngākōroa (west of Drury) and Paerātā being developed.
New Zealand
Sun, Feb 2
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the "universally loathed" road level crossings, where streets and train lines intersect, would be happily farewelled by drivers.
Politics
Fri, Feb 21
“We know these buses can get busy during peak times, so there is also our network of frequent scheduled buses, which run at least every 15 minutes and stop at many of Auckland’s train stations."
Freight usually moved on the rails would also be shifted to trucks, which KiwiRail said would increase traffic around its freight hub at Southdown.
