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 EasternRBE: Rail Bus Eastern
Rail Bus SouthernRBS: Rail Bus Southern
Rail Bus OnehungaRBO: Rail Bus Ōnehunga
Rail Bus WesternRBW: 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.


Rail Network Rebuild Stage 3a

Stage 3a affects the Western Line.

Investigation works for Stage 3a of KiwiRail's Rail Network Rebuild took place during the Labour Weekend 2023 full network closure. To minimise disruption to customers, additional work was completed on some weekends and weeknights following Labour Weekend 2023 and during the annual Holiday Maintenance Period. City Rail Link work closed Waitematā Station (Britomart) for an additional period until 22 January 2024.

On 10 March, KiwiRail returns to Stage 3a on the Western Line. This work is expected to be completed in early May. The work focuses on drainage and track work between Avondale and Morningside stations. Some works will be completed during weekdays. Train services will continue to run but at a reduced frequency.

  • Western Line train services will be running every 20–minutes throughout the day.

View the Western Line Train Timetable (Reduced frequency) for Monday 11 to Wednesday 24 April 2024

For more information, please visit the Rail Network Rebuild project page.


Upcoming rail closures

Upcoming rail closures section last updated: 22 April 2024

April 2024

Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 April 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Panmure.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 April 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Newmarket.

View the Southern Line timetable for Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 April 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 April 2024

Thursday 25 April 2024 – ANZAC Day

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Swanson and Grafton, and from late evening between Swanson and Waitematā (Britomart).

View the Western Line timetable for Thursday 25 April 2024

Friday 26 April 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Panmure.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Friday 26 April 2024

  • Onehunga Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Onehunga.

View the Onehunga Line timetable Line for Friday 26 April 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Otahuhu.

View the Southern Line timetable for Friday 26 April 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Friday 26 April 2024

Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 April 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains between Sylvia Park and Manukau, and Waitematā (Britomart) and The Strand.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 April 2024

  • Onehunga Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Onehunga.

View the Onehunga Line timetable Line for Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 April 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Papakura.

View the Southern Line timetable for Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 April 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 April 2024

View the Puhinui Express services timetable for Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 April 2024

Monday 29 April to Thursday 2 May 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between and Waitematā (Britomart) and Panmure.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Monday 29 April to Thursday 2 May 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Papakura.

View the Southern Line timetable for Monday 29 April to Thursday 2 May 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Newmarket.

View the Western Line timetable for Monday 29 April to Thursday 2 May 2024

May 2024

Friday 3 May 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Panmure.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Friday 3 May 2024

  • Onehunga Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Newmarket and Onehunga.

View the Onehunga Line timetable Line for Friday 3 May 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Otahuhu.

View the Southern Line timetable for Friday 3 May 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Friday 3 May 2024

Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Panmure.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May 2024

  • Onehunga Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Newmarket and Onehunga.

View the Onehunga Line timetable Line for Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Otahuhu.

View the Southern Line timetable for Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May 2024

Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May 2024 

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between and Waitematā (Britomart) and Panmure.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Papakura.

View the Southern Line timetable for Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Newmarket.

View the Western Line timetable for Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May 2024

Sunday 12 May 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Otahuhu and Manukau.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Sunday 12 May 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains between Otahuhu and Papakura and from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Newmarket.

View the Southern Line timetable for Sunday 12 May 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Newmarket.

View the Western Line timetable for Sunday 12 May 2024

Monday 13 to Thursday 16 May 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between and Waitematā (Britomart) and Panmure.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Monday 13 to Thursday 16 May 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Newmarket.

View the Southern Line timetable for Monday 13 to Thursday 16 May 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Newmarket.

View the Western Line timetable for Monday 13 to Thursday 16 May 2024

Friday 17 May 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Panmure.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Friday 17 May 2024

  • Southern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Otahuhu.

View the Southern Line timetable for Friday 17 May 2024

  • Western Line – Buses replace trains between Waitematā (Britomart) and Swanson.

View the Western Line timetable for Friday 17 May 2024

Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 May 2024

  • Eastern Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Waitematā (Britomart) and Panmure.

View the Eastern Line timetable for Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 May 2024

  • Onehunga Line – Buses replace trains from late evening between Newmarket and Onehunga.

View the Onehunga Line timetable Line for Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 May 2024

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


More information on rail closures

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