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Electric trains to Pukekohe Electric trains to Pukekohe

Auckland’s metro rail network was electrified in 2015, allowing for Auckland Transport to operate electric trains, which is now being extended to Pukekohe.

Project Status: Under Construction
Project Zone: South

Project Summary

As part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme in early 2020, KiwiRail received funding for the electrification to be extended to Pukekohe. When completed in 2024, customers travelling from Pukekohe across Auckland, will no longer need to switch trains at Papakura and will enjoy faster, quieter, and cleaner journeys in modern electric trains. Customers will also experience faster and more frequent services to the current situation.

There will be three key changes on the network between Papakura and Pukekohe:

  • Redeveloping Pukekohe Station
  • Extending the overhead power system from Papakura to Pukekohe
  • Upgrading existing track, signals and level crossings.

Enabling works commenced in late 2020 and have included clearing vegetation, improving access to work sites, underground testing, and improvements to the rail tracks.

Planning approvals for the major works were considered under the fast-track legislation. All consents for the major works were approved in August 2021.

Visit KiwiRail’s project page for more details on site specific work.

Redeveloping Pukekohe Station

KiwiRail and Auckland Transport are working together to build a modern train station suitable for future needs as Pukekohe grows. This will complement the redeveloped bus interchange built at Pukekohe Station in 2018.

The new station will include:

  • A new platform layout to accommodate longer trains. Initially platforms will serve six-car trains with an option to extend them to nine-car trains in the future, providing more capacity.
  • Removing the existing station building and building modern passenger facilities such as new shelters, AT HOP machines and easy access to complement the bus interchange.
  • Installing new overhead power masts and changing the track layout for trains to pass easily and safely through the station area
  • Building new electric train stabling (where trains are placed when not in use)

Temporary changes to services

From 13 August there will be some changes in services to allow us to accommodate work being done to electrify the train network. More information for timetables and route of the replacement bus will be available shortly.

Suspension of the Pukekohe Shuttle

In November 2021, KiwiRail and Auckland Transport announced that the Pukekohe shuttle service that connects Papakura and Pukekohe would be suspended from mid 2022 until the second half of 2024. This is to accommodate the significant work that needs to be carried out on the 19km section of line between Papakura and Pukekohe until 2025. 

Most of this work will require at least one track, and often two, to be closed at multiple locations along the route. Without suspending the commuter service, we would not be able to get the work done safely and on schedule.

To enable this, Auckland Transport has agreed to replace the ageing Papakura – Pukekohe diesel train shuttle service with buses from 13 August 2022. This will be in place until electric trains can run on that stretch of track.

394 Bus Service

While Pukekohe Station is closed, Auckland Transport will operate the 394 bus between Pukekohe, Paerata Rise and Pukekohe.

During the station closure, the cost of the bus trip will be 1 cent. If a customer transfers to another bus or train within 30 minutes of using the 394 bus, the trip is free.

Customers will need to use your AT HOP card to and off the 394 service

Download a map of the 394 bus service (PDF 1.94MB).

Bus operating hours:

Buses are scheduled to replicate the affected train service as much as possible, running 7 days a week, including late night departures on Fridays. Buses will run

  • Approximately every 15 - 20 minutes at peak commuting times on weekdays
  • Approximately every 20 – 30 minutes at all other times.

Buses have been scheduled to allow for a comfortable transfer time from bus to train at Papakura Station, and vice versa.

To view timetables and travel options, visit Journey Planner or use the AT Mobile app.