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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.

Plan your journey

Rail replacement buses show up in the AT mobile app as bus services (not trains) and use the following names:

Rail Bus Eastern badgeRBE: Rail Bus Eastern
Rail Bus Southern badgeRBS: Rail Bus Southern
Rail Bus Onehunga badge RBO: Rail Bus Onehunga
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.

Rail Network Rebuild

From 16 January to 19 March 2023, we will be working with KiwiRail to transform Auckland’s rail network and improve passenger services. For more information, please visit the project page. 

Upcoming closures

Last updated: 10 January 2023

January 2023

Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023 - Rail Network Rebuild Stage 1

Six stations on the Southern and Onehunga Lines will be closed during this
upgrade. Buses will replace trains at these stations: Onehunga, Te Papapa.
Penrose, Ellerslie, Greenlane and Remuera.

  • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Newmarket and Ōtāhuhu. Trains will to run between Papakura and Britomart using the Eastern Line (via Panmure).

View the Southern Line timetable (Weekdays) for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.
View the Southern Line timetable (Weekends) for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.
View the Southern Line Ellerslie Express Bus timetable for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.

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

View the Onehunga Line Connector (Monday to Saturday) timetable for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.
View the Onehunga Line Connector (Sunday) timetable for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.
View the Onehunga Line Express (Monday to Saturday) timetable for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.
View the Onehunga Line Express (Sunday) timetable for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.

  • Eastern Line - Trains will run to an altered timetable.

Eastern line customers from Manukau will need to transfer at Ōtāhuhu to the Southern line in off-peak times only (9:15am to 3pm and 8pm to 5:15am).

View the Eastern Line timetable (Weekdays) for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.
View the Eastern Line timetable (Weekends) for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.

  • Western Line - Trains will run to an altered timetable.

View the Western Line timetable (Weekdays) for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.
View the Western Line timetable (Weekends) for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.​

Saturday 28 to Monday 30 January 2023 - Auckland Anniversary

There will be a full rail network closure the Auckland Anniversary Weekend.

Please be aware that unfortunately our Journey Planner and AT Mobile app have not been updated with the rail bus replacement services due to a data upload failure. Existing rail buses for the Network Rebuild will be visible.
You can use physical timetables at rail bus stops or the links below.

  • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson on an hourly frequency.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 28 to Monday 30 January 2023.

  • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Newmarket and Ōtāhuhu on a 20-minute frequency until 8pm, then they will run on a 30-minute frequency until the end of service. Buses will also replace trains between Ōtāhuhu and Homai on a 30 minute frequency.

View the Southern Line between Newmarket and Ōtāhuhu timetable for Saturday 28 to Monday 30 January 2023.
View the Southern Line between Ōtāhuhu and Homai timetable for Sunday 29 & Monday 30 January 2023.​

  • Eastern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Manukau on an hourly frequency. 

View the Eastern Line timetable for Saturday 28 to Monday 30 January 2023.

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

View the Onehunga Line Connector timetable for Saturday 28 January 2023.
View the Onehunga Line Connector timetable for Sunday 29 & Monday 30 January 2023.
View the Onehunga Line Express timetable for Saturday 28 January 2023.
View the Onehunga Line Express timetable for Sunday 29 & Monday 30 January 2023.

  • Puhinui Express - The Puhinui Express bus will be running between Britomart and Puhinui Station, via Newmarket, on a 30 minute frequency. 7am to 7pm.

View the Puhinui Express timetable for Saturday 28 to Monday 30 January 2023.

Saturday 4 to Monday 6 February 2023 - Waitangi Weekend

  • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Newmarket and Otahuhu (as per Rail Network Rebuild), and between Britomart and Panmure.

View the Southern Line timetable between Britomart and Panmure from Saturday 4 to Monday 6 February 2023.

View the Southern Line timetable between Newmarket and Ōtāhuhu for Saturday 4 to Monday 6 February 2023.​

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

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 4 to Monday 6 February 2023.

  • Eastern Line - Running only between Otahuhu and Manukau on weekends. Customers travelling to Britomart can transfer to a Southern line service at Otahuhu.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Saturday 4 to Monday 6 February 2023.

  • Onehunga Line - Buses replace trains between Newmarket and Otahuhu.

View the Onehunga Line Connector timetable for Saturday 4 February 2023.
View the Onehunga Line Connector timetable for Sunday 5 & Monday 6 Febraury 2023.
View the Onehunga Line Express timetable for Saturday 4 February 2023.
View the Onehunga Line Express timetable for Sunday 5 & Monday 6 February 2023.

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

Information is correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.

Last updated 27 January 2023
Information is correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.