Skip to main content

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 replacement buses do not stop at Parnell 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 Rail Network Rebuild project page.

Upcoming rail closures

Upcoming rail closures section last updated: Thursday 2 March 2023

March 2023

Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 March

  • Western Line - Buses replace trains between New Lynn and Swanson

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 18 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 (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 (Weekends) for Monday 16 January to Sunday 19 March 2023.

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

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

Monday 20 to Thursday 23 March

  • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket after 22:30

Timetable will be published soon.

  • Western Line - Buses will replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket after 22:30

Timetable will be published soon.

  • Onehunga Line - buses will replace trains between Newmarket and Britomart after 20:30

Friday 31 March

  • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson after 22:30 

View the Western Line timetable for Friday 31 March 2023.

April 2023​

Saturday 1 April to Sunday 2 April 

  • Eastern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Manukau

View the Eastern Line timetable for Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 April 2023.

  • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Otahuhu and Papakura

View the Southern Line timetable for Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 April 2023.

  • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson 

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 April 2023.

Thursday 6 April 

  • Western Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson after 22:30

Easter Weekend - Friday 7 April to Monday 10 April 

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains between Britomart and Manukau

Timetable will be published soon.

  • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Papakura

Timetable will be published soon.

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Britomart and Swanson

Timetable will be published soon.

  • Onehunga Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Onehunga 

Timetable will be published soon.

Tuesday 11 April to Thursday 13 April 

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains per Rail Network Rebuild

Timetable will be published soon.

  • Southern Line - Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket after 22:30

Timetable will be published soon.

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Britomart and Newmarket after 22:30

Timetable will be published soon.

  • Onehunga Line - buses will replace trains between Newmarket and Britomart after 20:30

Timetable will be published soon.

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 15 March 2023
Information is correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.