Summer Schedule
Planning on taking public transport around the region this summer?
Metlink is operating a special summer timetable while we make improvements to our network so your usual service may have changed.
Be sure to plan ahead and check your timetable before you travel.
Want to find out more about our network improvements? Visit our Projects Timeline.
Christmas Day Free Travel
Metlink are providing free travel on Christmas day in the Wellington region for all bus and train services, including a Wairarapa to Wellington and return bus service this year. This excludes:
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Airport Express
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On-Demand Services
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Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility (taxis)
Whether you’re spending time with friends and family, or going solo, we hope you enjoy a day of free travel on us.
Buses, trains and harbour ferries will run on a special summer timetable over the holiday period from 26 December 2024 – 12 January 2025. The Wairarapa rail line will have an extended special timetable until 9 February 2025.
Due to upgrades on the rail network, buses will replace trains during this time.
Buses replacing trains between Wellington Railway Station and
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Petone
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Melling
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Johnsonville
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Paekākāriki
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Masterton
Buses will depart from Platform 10 at the Wellington Train Station for all lines.
KiwiRail will carry out key projects and critical track maintenance, including the installation of the new signaling system at Wellington Train Station.
Bus services will run on a special timetable from 26 December. All Metlink bus services return to normal from Monday 6 January 2025. Please see the summer timetable below or check the bus timetable(external link) for updates over the summer period.
Please note:
Standard fares still apply for all passengers on weekdays that are not public holidays (27, 30, 31 December 2024 and 3, 6-10 January 2025).
After-Midnight services are operating, check the timetable to plan your journey.
SuperGold card holders will ride free during off-peak hours, which include weekdays 9am - 3pm and after 6:30pm, as well as weekends and public holidays.
Plan ahead, check the timetable before you travel.
Due to work being done by KiwiRail on the rail network, buses will be replacing trains during this time. Buses will depart from Platform 10 at Wellington Train Station. Learn about the timetable for each line below.
From 26 December 2024 to 12 January 2025, buses will replace trains between Wellington Railway Station and
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Petone
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Melling
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Johnsonville
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Paekākāriki
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Masterton
Kāpiti Line
Parts of the Kāpiti Line will be closed, and trains will run between Waikanae and Paekākāriki and back ONLY. Please see the schedule below for service days and please reference the online timetable or paper timetables for the service times.
Hutt Valley Line
Parts of the Hutt Valley and Melling Lines will be closed, and trains will run between Upper Hutt and Petone and Petone to Upper Hutt ONLY. Please see the schedule below for service days and please reference the online timetable or paper timetables for the service times.
Johnsonville Line
Buses will replace trains on the entire line. Please see the schedule below for service days and please reference the online timetable or paper timetables for the service times. 
Parts of the Hutt Valley and Melling Lines will be closed, and trains will run between Upper Hutt and Petone and Petone to Upper Hutt ONLY. Please see the schedule below for service days and please reference the online timetable or paper timetables for the service times.
Why is this happening?
KiwiRail will carry out key projects and critical track maintenance, including the installation of the new signaling system at Wellington Train Station.
There are some big improvements underway on our rail network. It’s going to take time to make the improvements needed to your rail network and there will always be ongoing upkeep – that’s part and parcel of running a rail network. During this period, KiwiRail will be working on the following:
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General track renewal and maintenance
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Commissioning the new signalling system at Wellington Railway Station
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Replacing crossovers (allows trains to cross from one track to another) in Porirua. There are 4 x T track renewal sites between Kenepuru and Linden.
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Key asset renewals along the Kapiti Line
- To learn more about these important upgrades, visit Project Timeline.(external link)
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.
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:
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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)
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Renew the signalling system at Wellington Railway Station
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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
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General track renewal and maintenance
To learn more about these important upgrades, visit our Rail Upgrades page.
The Route 200 will run on a special timetable on some weekdays during the holiday period. Please see the schedule below for service days and please reference the online timetable or paper timetables for the service times.
The Route 204 will not run from Wednesday 25 December to Sunday 9 February.
Routes 201, 202, 203 and 206 will operate on a special schedule during the holiday period. Please see the schedule below for service days and please reference the online timetable or paper timetables for the service times.
Last published: Wednesday, 20 November 2024 at 12:18 am