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Rail Improvements & Bus Replacements

Wairarapa Line 

26 December 2024 and 9 February 2025 (46 Days).

Buses will replace trains on the Wairarapa line for 46 days between 26 December 2024 and 10 February 2025.

Wairarapa Line

Buses will replace trains on the Wairarapa line for 46 days between 26 December 2024 and 10 February 2025. Please see the schedule below for service days and please reference the online timetable or paper timetables for the service times.

WRL Train Timetable(external link)

For buses replacing trains timetables over the 46 day line closure and more information, please visit our Wairarapa Line page.

Why is it happening?

The rail line needs to be closed to allow KiwiRail to carry out extensive upgrades to our rail network to get the line ready for the new trains, which will mean faster and more frequent services and an efficient network in the years to come. 

During the Wairarapa Line closure, KiwiRail will work on the following: 

Replace more than 8km of old track inside the Remutaka Tunnel (first laid in 1955). Watch the project video, courtesy of KiwiRail to learn more.(external link)

Renew the signalling system at Wellington Railway Station

Upgrade the signalling system from the old lever run system to a new computer based one, which will be managed out of KiwiRail's National Train Control Centre in Wallaceville

General track renewal and maintenance

To learn more about these important upgrades, visit our Rail Upgrades page. 

See what it takes to make significant improvements to the rail network. This video shows the work done at the Wellington Metro Station over the 2024 Labour Weekend.

Route 204

The Route 204 will not run from Wednesday 25 December to Sunday 9 February. All other Wairarapa bus routes return to normal from the 13th January.