April Rail Closures April Rail Closures
Timeline
- Friday 3 to Monday 6 April 2026 (Easter long weekend) - full rail network closure
- Tuesday 7 to Saturday 11 April 2026 – Eastern Line closed.
- Tuesday 7 to Sunday 12 April 2026 – Southern Line closed between Puhinui to Pukekohe. Trains will run between Puhinui and Waitematā, and will service Manukau.
- Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April 2026 – full rail network closure for City Rail Link testing.
- Thursday 16 April 2026 – normal rail services resume.
- ANZAC Day weekend closure – trains will run until 2pm on Saturday 25 April, following this there will be a full rail network closure until Tuesday 28 April 2026.
Key Projects
Getting ready for City Rail Link’s opening in the second half of this year requires an upgrade of Auckland’s rail network, in addition to fitting out the new stations, and testing and commissioning of new systems.
The rail closures over the summer period saw Auckland Transport, KiwiRail and City Rail Link Ltd make significant improvements on our rail network and getting ready to open a new, improved train network.
However, there is still work to be done to not only get ready for City Rail Link but also progress on supporting transport infrastructure projects including:
- Construction of new pedestrian overbridges at Takaanini, Te Mahia and Glen Innes stations.
- Escalator renewals at Waitematā and bridge safety improvements and lift renewals at Middlemore stations.
- Henderson Station upgrades.
- Remuera Station heritage building renewal works.
- Continued construction of the new Drury, Ngākōroa and Paerātā rail stations.
- Upgrading signalling equipment between Ōrākei and Sylvia Park stations, and Homai to Papakura stations.
- Undertake timetable trials for City Rail Link
To get this work done as quickly as possible and to reduce long-term disruption to train services, there will be several days of full and partial closures on Auckland’s rail network during the April School Holidays.
Rail replacement bus services
Western Line
The Rail Bus West (RBW) is a rail replacement bus service that stops at each station along the Western Line when trains are not running. During the April Rail Upgrades, the RBW will operate on the following schedule:
Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026
|
Rail bus service |
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday |
|
Rail Bus West (RBW) - all Western Line stations |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
Western Line trains will resume service from Tuesday 7 April.
Monday 13 April to Wednesday 15 April 2026
The Western Line will close again so the tracks can be used for City Rail Link timetable trials.
|
Rail bus service |
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday |
|
Rail Bus West (RBW) - all Western Line stations |
Peak (7am – 9am & 4pm – 6pm): every 10 minutes (both directions) All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes |
|
Rail Bus West Express (RBWX) -limited stops, only Henderson, New Lynn, Avondale, Grafton, Newmarket, Parnell, Waitematā. |
Peak times and directions only. Morning peak (6am – 9am): every 20 minutes, from Henderson to Waitematā only. Afternoon peak (2pm – 6pm): every 20 minutes, from Waitematā to Henderson only |
Express map
ANZAC Day, Saturday 25 April
|
Service |
Saturday 25 April |
|
Western Line trains will run until 2pm. |
|
|
Rail Bus West (RBW) - all Western Line stations |
From 2pm: every 20 minutes From 8pm: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
Sunday 26 to Monday 27 April
|
Rail bus service |
Sunday & Monday |
|
Rail Bus West (RBW) - all Western Line stations |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes |
Southern Line
The Rail Bus South (RBS) is a rail replacement bus service that stops at each station along the Southern Line when trains are not running. During the April Rail Upgrades, the RBS will operate on the following schedule:
Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026
|
Rail bus service |
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday |
|
Rail Bus South (RBS) - all Southern Line stations |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
Tuesday 7 April to Sunday 12 April
|
Rail bus service |
Weekdays |
Weekend |
|
Rail Bus South (RBS) -Manukau and Pukekohe |
Peaks (7am – 9am & 4pm – 6pm): every 10 minutes All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am
|
|
Rail Bus South Express (RBSX) – limited stops, only Manukau, Papakura and Pukekohe |
Peaks (6am – 9am & 2pm – 6pm): every 20 minutes in both directions (inbound and outbound) |
Not operating |
Express map
Monday 13 April to Wednesday 15 April
|
Rail bus service |
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday |
|
Rail Bus South (RBS) - all Southern Line stations |
Peak (7am – 9am & 4pm – 6pm): every 10 minutes (both directions) All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes |
|
Rail Bus South Express (RBSX) – limited stops, only Papakura, Puhinui, Papatoetoe, Middlemore, Ōtāhuhu, Newmarket, and Waitematā |
Between 6am to 8pm: every 20 minutes in both directions (inbound and outbound) |
Express map
ANZAC Day, Saturday 25 April
|
Service |
Saturday 25 April |
|
Southern Line trains will run until 2pm. |
|
|
Rail Bus South (RBS) - all Southern Line stations |
From 2pm: every 20 minutes From 8pm: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
Sunday 26 to Monday 27 April
|
Rail bus service |
Sunday & Monday |
|
Rail Bus South (RBS) - all Southern Line stations |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes |
Eastern Line
The Rail Bus East (RBE) is a rail replacement bus service that stops at each station along the Eastern Line when trains are not running. During the April Rail Upgrades, the RBE will operate on the following schedule:
Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April
|
Rail bus service |
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday |
|
Rail Bus East (RBE) - all Eastern Line stations |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
|
Meadowbank Loop (RBM) – Remuera Road to Meadowbank Station shuttle service |
All day: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
Tuesday 7 April to Saturday 11 April
|
Rail bus service |
Weekdays |
Saturday |
|
Rail Bus East (RBE) –Ōtāhuhu to Waitematā |
Peaks (7am – 9am & 4pm – 6pm): every 10 minutes All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am
|
|
Meadowbank Loop (RBM) – Remuera Road to Meadowbank Station shuttle service |
All day:every 20 minutes
On Friday, the last RBM will leave Remuera Road at 1am
|
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
Monday 13 April to Wednesday 15 April
|
Rail bus service |
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday |
|
Rail Bus East (RBE) –all Eastern Line stations |
Peaks (7am – 9am & 4pm – 6pm): every 10 minutes All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes |
|
Meadowbank Loop (RBM) – Remuera Road to Meadowbank Station shuttle service |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes
|
ANZAC Day, Saturday 25 April
|
Service |
Saturday 25 April |
|
Eastern Line trains will run until 2pm. |
|
|
Rail Bus East (RBE) - all Eastern Line stations |
From 2pm: every 20 minutes From 8pm: every 30 minutes
On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
|
Meadowbank Loop (RBM) – Remuera Road to Meadowbank Station shuttle service |
From 2pm: every 20 minutes From 8pm: every 30 minutes
On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am
|
Sunday 26 to Monday 27 April
|
Rail bus service |
Sunday & Monday |
|
Rail Bus East (RBE) - all Eastern Line stations |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes |
|
Meadowbank Loop (RBM) – Remuera Road to Meadowbank Station shuttle service |
All day: every 20 minutes Evening: every 30 minutes
|
Onehunga Line
The Rail Bus Onehunga (RBO) is a rail replacement bus service that stops at each station along the Onehunga Line when trains are not running. During the April Rail Upgrades, the RBO will operate on the following schedule:
Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026
|
Rail bus service |
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday |
|
Rail Bus Onehunga (RBO) - all Onehunga Line stations |
All day: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
Onehunga Line trains will resume service from Tuesday 7 April.
Monday 13 April to Wednesday 15 April
|
Rail bus service |
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday |
|
Rail Bus Onehunga (RBO) - all Onehunga Line stations |
All day: every 30 minutes |
ANZAC Day, Saturday 25 April
|
Service |
Saturday 25 April |
|
Onehunga Line trains will run until 2pm. |
|
|
Rail Bus Onehunga (RBO) - all Onehunga Line stations |
From 2pm: every 30 minutes On Saturday, late evening buses until 1 am |
Sunday 26 to Monday 27 April
|
Rail bus service |
Sunday & Monday |
|
Rail Bus Onehunga (RBO) - all Onehunga Line stations |
All day and evenings: every 30 minutes |
Rail Replacement Bus Accessibility
Customers with wheelchairs or mobility scooters that are too large to take on rail replacement buses will be able to book a free mobility taxi by phoning our Contact Centre on 09 366 6400.
Visit bus accessibility to find out more about travelling by bus if you have access challenges or limited mobility.