Southbound traffic on SH1 from the Johnsonville Off-ramp about 8.10am. Photo / NZTA Journey Planner

Wellington train lines expected to be open for afternoon commuter peak

Author: NZ Herald,
Publish Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2019, 2:48PM

Wellington's train lines are expected to be open in time the late-afternoon commuter peak.

The capital's roads were thrown into chaos this morning thanks to a freight train that derailed near the central city the evening before, damaging crucial sections of track.

The derailment mean most of the region's train lines weren't running this morning as commuters tried to make their ways to work.

About 20,000 train commuters scrambled to find a way in, with not enough replacement buses to carry everyone.

Eight sets of points - which allow trains to switch tracks - and sections of track were damaged on Tuesday night when four container wagons on a freight train derailed at the junction as it was leaving the Wellington Rail Yard.

The rail lines were closed from about 7.40pm.

KiwiRail crews from across the lower North Island worked through the night to remove the train and derailed wagons and have today been focused on repairing the rail lines.

The crews will continue to work on the junction at night over the course of the week, to fully restore the network to its normal operation. This will be done when commuter trains are not operating.

KiwiRail is investigating the cause of the derailment and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.