Wellington Metro & Lower North Island

We know Wellingtonians want a commuter service they can trust, with timetables that offer plenty of choice.

Government's recent investment in rail has given us the funding we need to get your railway fit and reliable, ready for faster and more frequent services.

From 2029 Greater Wellington’s new Tūhono battery electric trains will replace diesel locomotives working the Wairarapa and Manawatū lines.

For Wairarapa passengers, services will double from 10 to 20 per day.

The Capital Connection between Palmerston North and Wellington will be replaced with four return weekday services, plus two return services per day on the weekend.

Wellington's Metro currently supports more than 14 million passenger journeys each year.  This number is expected to increase as the region grows and more people turn to rail as a sustainable, affordable mode of transport.  

As the network gets stronger, delays and disruptions will lessen.  We have a way to go, but we are making strong progress, and we appreciate your support.  

"A good, reliable train service is the bread and butter of a vibrant and connected region.  What we are doing now is building a network that can handle the demands of tomorrow."

Wellington Metro General Manager Andy Lyon

See a video about the trains New battery electric trains.

In the past 18 months we have: 

• Replaced many kilometres of old track, including a complete renewal of the historic Remutaka Tunnel. See a video of the project
• Repaired several level crossings around the region, fixed Ava Bridge, built loop tracks on the Wairarapa Line
• so that trains can pass without waiting, stabilised slopes on the Johnsonville Line and begun seawall strengthening work on the Kāpiti Line  
• Made room for more services at Wellington Station by moving tracks and replacing the 1937 vintage lever operated signals with a modern computer-based system. See a video about the project Modernising to keep Wellington moving
• Completed safety upgrades at 29 of the 30 Wairarapa level crossings - just Brandon Street in Featherston to go. Signalling work to make the new safety barriers live is underway and will be complete by 2027. See a video about Wairarapa level crossing upgrades

Over the next 18 months we will: 

• Lift as many speed restrictions as we can by targeting the most vulnerable sections of the network. This will begin to reduce travel times in particular for Wairarapa and Hutt Valley commuters.     
• Install five new substations to deliver more power into the system and enable more train services.
• Begin upgrade work on the Manawatū Line between Waikanae and Palmerston North ready for the new Tūhono battery electric trains.  Read about it here.
• Complete the Wairarapa Line upgrade by making newly installed safety barriers live.