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Planned Rail Closures Planned Rail Closures

We're continuing to upgrade Auckland's rail network. This means that there are times when trains won't be running. During these rail closures, we'll replace train services with buses. 

On this page

Travelling during rail closures

You can use Journey Planner and the AT Mobile app to find other ways to travel when trains are not running. Rail replacement buses show up in the AT mobile app as bus services (not trains) and use the following names:

The Rail Bus Eastern badge    RBE: Rail Bus Eastern
The Rail Bus Southern badge    RBS: Rail Bus Southern
The Rail Bus Onehunga badge    RBO: Rail Bus Onehunga
The Rail Bus Western badge    RBW: Rail Bus Western

You can use all valid train tickets and passes to travel on rail replacement buses.

Buses cannot carry bikes, scooters, or large personal items.

Please note: Rail bus replacement buses do not stop at Parnell Station or Meadowbank Station.

Upcoming closures

Last updated: 10:33am, 24 November 2011

November 2021

Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021

From Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021, there will be altered timetables with some services replaced by bus late at night.

    • Southern Line - from 10:15pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket.

View the Southern Line timetable for Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line
      • from 10:25pm ​Buses replace trains heading towards Britomart between Britomart and Otahuhu.
      • from 10:45pm ​Buses replace trains heading towards Manukau between Britomart and Manukau.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Western Line - from 9:10pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Onehunga Line - The last service departing from Onehunga towards Britomart terminates at Newmarket.

View the Onehunga Line timetable for Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021​ (PDF 2MB) 

December 2021

Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021

From Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021, there will be altered timetables with some services replaced by bus late at night.

    • Southern Line - from 10:15pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket.

View the Southern Line timetable for Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line
      • from 10:25pm ​Buses replace trains heading towards Britomart between Britomart and Otahuhu.
      • from 10:45pm ​Buses replace trains heading towards Manukau between Britomart and Manukau.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Western Line - from 9:10pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Onehunga Line - The last service departing from Onehunga towards Britomart terminates at Newmarket.

View the Onehunga Line timetable for Monday 29 November to Thursday 2 December 2021​ (PDF 2MB) 

Friday 3 December 2021

    • Western Line - from 9:10pm buses will replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Friday 3 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

Saturday 4 December 2021

    • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Penrose and Pukekohe.

View the Southern Line timetable for Saturday 4 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line - Buses replace trains between Panmure and Manukau.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Saturday 4 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 4 December and Sunday 5 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

Sunday 5 December 2021

    • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Penrose and Pukekohe and then from 10:15pm Buses also replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket.

View the Southern Line timetable for Sunday 5 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line - Buses replace trains between Panmure and Manuka​u and the last service both ways will be replaced by bus between Britomart and Manukau.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Sunday 5 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Onehunga Line - From 10:30pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket.

View the Onehunga Line timetable for Sunday 5 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) ​

Monday 6 December to Thursday 9 December 2021

From Monday 6 December to Thursday 9 December 2021, there will be altered timetables with some services replaced by bus late at night.

    • Southern Line - from 10:15pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket.

View the Southern Line timetable for Monday 6 December to Thursday 9 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line
      • from 10:25pm ​Buses replace trains heading towards Britomart between Britomart and Otahuhu.
      • from 10:45pm ​Buses replace trains heading towards Manukau between Britomart and Manukau.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Monday 6 December to Thursday 9 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Western Line - from 9:10pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Monday 6 December to Thursday 9 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Onehunga Line - The last service departing from Onehunga towards Britomart terminates at Newmarket.

View the Onehunga Line timetable for Monday 6 December to Thursday 9 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

​Sunday 12 December 2021

    • Southern Line - Last trips after 10:15pm towards Britomart and Pukekohe will have a bus replace the train between Newmarket and Britomart.

View the Southern Line timetable for Sunday 12 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line - Last trip at 10pm towards Britomart will have a bus replace the train between Otahuhu and Britomart.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Sunday 12 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Western Line - From 9:10pm buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Sunday 12 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Onehunga Line - Last trip at 10:15pm towards Britomart will have a bus replace the train between Newmarket and Britomart.

View the Onehunga Line timetable for Sunday 12 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

Monday 13 December to Thursday 16 December 2021

From Monday 13 December to Thursday 16 December 2021, there will be altered timetables with some services replaced by bus late at night.

    • Southern Line - from 10:15pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket.

View the Southern Line timetable for Monday 13 December to Thursday 16 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line
      • from 10:25pm ​Buses replace trains heading towards Britomart between Britomart and Otahuhu.
      • from 10:45pm ​Buses replace trains heading towards Manukau between Britomart and Manukau.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Monday 13 December to Thursday 16 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Western Line - from 9:10pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Monday 13 December to Thursday 16 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Onehunga Line - The last service departing from Onehunga towards Britomart terminates at Newmarket.

View the Onehunga Line timetable for Monday 13 December to Thursday 16 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

Friday 17 December 2021

    • Western Line - from 10:15pm Buses replace trains between New Lynn and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Friday 17 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

Saturday 18 December and Sunday 19 December 2021

    • Western Line on Saturday 18 December - Buses replace trains between New Lynn and Swanson. 

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 18 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Western Line on Saturday 19 December - Buses replace trains between New Lynn and Swanson. After 9:30pm Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Sunday 19 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

Friday 24 December 2021

    • Southern Line - Extra late night services.

View the Southern Line timetable for Friday 24 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line - Extra late night services.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Friday 24 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Western Line - Extra late night services.

View the Western Line timetable for Friday 24 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Onehunga Line - Extra late night services.

View the Onehunga Line timetable for Friday 24 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

Saturday 25 December 2021

    • Southern Line - Service will follow a Sunday timetable.

View the Southern Line timetable for Saturday 25 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line - Service will follow a Sunday timetable.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Saturday 25 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Western Line - Service will follow a Sunday timetable.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 25 December 2021 (PDF 2MB) 

    • Onehunga Line - Service will follow a Sunday timetable.

View the Onehunga Line timetable for Saturday 25 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

Sunday 26 December to Tuesday 28 December 2021

    • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Pukekohe.

View the Southern Line timetable for Sunday 26 December to Tuesday 28 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Manukau.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Sunday 26 December to Tuesday 28 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Sunday 26 December to Tuesday 28 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

    • Onehunga Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Onehunga.

View the Onehunga Line timetable for Sunday 26 December to Tuesday 28 December 2021 (PDF 2MB)

Sunday 26 December 2021 to Sunday 16 January 2022

    • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Pukekohe.

View the Puhinui Express timetable for Sunday 26 December 2021 to Sunday 16 January 2022 (PDF 2MB)

    • Eastern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Manukau.
    • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.
    • Onehunga Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Onehunga.

Timetables for rail replacement bus services will be available soon.

This work is part of the annual shutdown during the quietest part of the year for rail commuters. It allows uninterrupted work on the network to complete projects such as:

  • Preparing Britomart Station for the City Rail Link
  • Track changes near Mt Eden as part of the City Rail Link
  • Track work across the network by KiwiRail to prepare for the opening of the City Rail Link

January 2022

Saturday 1 January ​to Tuesday 4 January 2022

  • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 1 January ​to Tuesday 4 January 2022 (PDF 2MB)

Saturday 8 January ​to Sunday 9 January 2022

  • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 8 January ​to Sunday 9 January 2022 (PDF 2MB)

Saturday 15 January ​to Sunday 16 January 2022

  • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 15 January ​to Sunday 16 January 2021 (PDF 2MB)

Saturday 22 January ​to Sunday 23 January 2022

  • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 22 January ​to Sunday 23 January 2021 (PDF 2MB)

Monday 17 January to Sunday 23 January 2022

    • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket.
    • Eastern Line - Trains will terminate at The Strand station. Buses replace trains between Britomart and The Strand station.
    • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson.
    • Onehunga Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket.

Timetables for services during this week will be available soon.

Track work will continue during this week in Britomart Station and near Mt Eden as part of the City Rail Link project.

About our rail maintenance work

Sometimes, we need to close rail lines to perform important maintenance work. This is so we can keep everyone safe.

We might need to:

  • Lift, repair, or replace sections of track
  • Shut down overhead power supplies for electric trains
  • Maintain structures like bridges, tunnels, and platforms
  • Move equipment, tools, and supplies across rail lines

We try to do most work at night.

But we sometimes have to do work during the day. These upgrades may be too unsafe to do in the dark or too noisy for people living nearby.

We try to schedule work for when the fewest passengers are travelling.

When we close rail services, we provide rail replacement buses so you can get where you need to go.

These buses follow the same lines as the train services they're replacing. They stop at most stations, except for Parnell Station and Meadowbank Station.

More information on rail closures

Last updated 24 November 2021
Information is correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.