Most Wellington passenger train services resume

Monday, 25 May 2020

School children wait in the rain at Redwood Station after trains were suspended due to a 5.8-magnitude earthquake.

Most train services have resumed in Wellington following temporary line closures because of an earthquake near Levin.

Metlink said the Kāpiti and Hutt Valley lines had been given clearance to reopen following assessments for damage.

Trains would run at reduced speeds. Johnsonville trains would continue to be replaced by buses until 12.02pm on Monday.

'We continue to advise passengers that there will be significant delays and will update as the situation changes.'

**READ MORE:

Otaki Beach Store had a clean-up job after the earthquake.

* Train disruptions to continue as carriages rearranged and speed restricted

* Wellington train services resume on Hutt Valley and Kāpiti lines

* Cancellations on Johnsonville rail line increasing due to driver shortages and maintenance problems

* 'Potential mechanical issue' caused major delays for Hutt Valley and Kāpiti trains

Wellington Railway Station is all-but deserted after a large quake stopped trains on Monday morning.

Commuters were stuck for more than two hours following the 5.8-magnitude earthquake 30km northwest of Levin while maintenance crews inspected the tracks.

'During this time, we have sourced limited bus replacements on the Kāpiti and Hutt Valley lines,' Metlink said.

'We advise, if you are able to, to use alternative transport this morning.

'Metlink buses are operating.'

Updates would become available as sections of the network were cleared following inspection, it said.

'This means we will have some trains moving along the network before full train services resume.

'We continue to advise passengers that there will be significant delays and will update as the situation changes. '

Metlink spokeswoman Emily Liddell said any trains stuck between stations were driven to the nearest station, where passengers were met by bus replacements.