Buses replace many weekend trains

Buses will be used to transport many train users over Labour Weekend while overhead poles at Wellington junction are replaced.

Transport authorities are carrying out ‘‘essential maintenance work’’ over the long weekend, when there is lower passenger demand, in a bid to minimise disruption.

Work on the Johnsonville line had already been earmarked for this weekend, but the recent decision to replace the poles means the Kapiti, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa lines will also be affected.

Greater Wellington Regional Council general manager Wayne Hastie said that, for practical and safety reasons, this type of maintenance work could not be carried out while the lines were operating. ‘‘We realise that these outages cause inconvenience to our customers,’’ he said. ‘‘However, the maintenance of our tracks and poles is critical to providing reliable, punctual and safe rail services.’’

All services will return to normal schedule on Tuesday.

Labour weekend train services

Kapiti line: Buses will run between Porirua and Wellington, while trains will operate between Waikanae and Porirua.

Work being done: Replacing Takapu Rd railway bridge sleepers. New train replacement schedule to be trialled.

Johnsonville line: All services will be replaced with buses this long weekend.

Work being done: Signalling upgrade and rail tensioning between Wellington and Crofton Downs. Sleepers replaced between Ngaio and Box Hill, and vegetation will be cleared along the line.

Wairarapa line: Trains between Masterton and Upper Hutt will run as scheduled Saturday and Sunday, while buses replace trains between Upper Hutt and Wellington. On Monday, trains will operate between Masterton to Petone. Buses to be used between Petone and Wellington.

Hutt Valley line: Buses to replace trains on Saturday, Sunday. Buses will replace trains between Petone and Upper Hutt on Monday.

Work being done: Track maintenance between Ngauranga and Trentham, and re-railing work between Taita and Pomare. Pedestrian overbridge to be installed at Manor Park, and vegetation to be cleared.