Train track fault to disrupt Auckland Southern line services until Thursday

Monday, 14 June 2021

Auckland Southern line train services will be running at a reduced frequency this week due to a track fault.

From Monday June 14 to Thursday June 17, all Southern line services will operate to a 20-minute frequency, Auckland Transport announced.

Services on the line typically operate every 10-15 minutes, depending on the time of day.

The disruption is due to a track fault and related speed restrictions near Puhinui.

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**

KiwiRail CEO Todd Moyle said in a statement that disruptions are due to urgent work to replace worn rail across the Auckland metro network.

He said the major part of the work – laying almost 130km of new rail – was completed in March 2021, enabling the removal of blanket speed restrictions across large sections of the network.

However, Moyle said further work is continuing, and recent routine inspections have shown some locations along the Southern line “need to be prioritised”.

Temporary speed restrictions have been put in place until the new rail components can be installed, he said.

Auckland Transport media relations manager Mark Hannan said travellers could expect a slower journey with a delay of up to 10 minutes given the speed restrictions on the line.

Hannan said train capacity had been increased during the period of disruption.

He said Southern line trains were operating with six carriages during peak hours, whereas normally there would be a mixture of three-carriage and six-carriage trains.

Travellers are advised to plan ahead.