Summer Rail Upgrade Summer Rail Upgrade

To get ready for the City Rail Link (CRL) in 2026, we are making essential upgrades to our rail network. We are using the holiday period to finish some of these upgrades.

Between Friday 27 December 2024, and Monday 27 January 2025, buses will replace all trains for the Summer Rail Upgrade.

There’s an additional week of closure – 28 January to 2 February – for parts of the Eastern and Southern Lines.

Rail replacement bus services:

All-stop bus services (RBE, RBS, RBO and RBW) will run throughout the closure with an additional express rail bus (RBSX) connecting Papakura, Manukau, Puhinui (Airport connection) Papatoetoe, Middlemore Hospital, Ōtāhuhu, Newmarket, Parnell and Waitematā (Britomart).

RBE – Rail Bus East route schematic
RBS – Rail Bus South route schematic
RBSX – Express Rail Bus South route schematic
RBO – Rail Bus Onehunga route schematic
RBW – Rail Bus West route schematic

From 6 January to 27 January 2025, as customers start returning from holidays, we will add additional rail bus express services on the Eastern (RBPX) and Western (RBWX) lines to help you get to where you need to go. All stops RBE, RBS, RBW and RBO will continue to run on an increased frequency at peak times.

RBWX – Express Rail Bus West route schematic
RBPX – Express Rail Bus Panmure route schematic

From 28 January to 2 February 2025, the Western and Onehunga lines will reopen as well as the Eastern and Southern lines between Waitemata and Ōtāhuhu. Train services will run on a reduced frequency.

Buses will replace trains between Ōtāhuhu and Homai and Papakura to Pukekohe on the Southern line and Ōtāhuhu and Manukau on the Eastern line. A rail bus service (RBSE) will run between Homai, Manukau, Puhinui (Airport connection), Papatoetoe, Middlemore Hospital and Ōtāhuhu.

RBSE – Extra Rail Bus South route schematic

On Monday 3 February 2025 all train services will resume including trains from Pukekohe which will get electric train services for the first time.

We’re working hard over summer to upgrade the rail network while most customers are away. We understand that disruption to services is frustrating. We appreciate your patience as we get ready for CRL.

See rail bus express timetables:

Eastern Line Express weekday timetable - 06 to 27 January 2025

Eastern Line Express weekend timetable - 06 to 27 January 2025

Southern Line Express weekday timetable - 06 to 27 January 2025

Southern Line Express weekend timetable - 06 to 27 January 2025

Western Line Express weekday timetable - 06 to 27 January 2025

Western Line Express weekend timetable - 06 to 27 January 2025

We recommend checking:

Journey planner
AT Mobile app
Live departures
Digital signs at stops and stations before you travel.