Wairarapa Line rail services return to full schedule
Several weekday Wairarapa Line services returned to rail this month, following a period of bus replacements due to a staffing shortage earlier this year.
A full schedule of rail services resumed on Monday 4 August, after four services had been regularly replaced by buses while Transdev worked to rebuild its roster of qualified train managers.
Metlink Senior Manager of Operations, Paul Tawharu, says the return to a full rail timetable shows steady progress in restoring service reliability.
“While we are not yet at a full team of train managers, the current roster has allowed us to operate all scheduled services as trains sooner than expected,” says Tawharu
“Transdev’s priority now is to continue training new staff for a full team of 13 train managers by September, with recruitment underway for the next intake.”
The Wairarapa Line requires train managers with specialised training, including industry-standard licenses for the Remutaka Tunnel and shunting operations in Masterton Yard. As of today, eleven train managers are trained and rostered to work on the Wairarapa Line.
Greater Wellington Regional Councillor for Wairarapa, Adrienne Staples, says the resumption of services is a welcome development, but not a resolution to all challenges on the line.
“Passengers have shown considerable patience. While regular bus replacements provided consistency, I’m relieved to see rail services operating again,” says Cr Staples.
“With KiwiRail’s planned upgrades on the Hutt Valley Line now underway, disruptions to Wairarapa services are more likely to be due to infrastructure improvements rather than staffing issues.”
Wairarapa commuters have weathered a challenging few months, and I also want to thank the train managers who have worked extra hours to keep peak services running as planned.
KiwiRail’s series of interpeak rail improvements on the Hutt Valley Line began on 4 August and will continue through to Thursday 27 November. While morning and evening peak-time services remain unaffected, off-peak Wairarapa Line trains between 9:30am and 2:30pm will be replaced by buses between Upper Hutt and Wellington.
Member of Parliament for Wairarapa, Mike Butterick, feels encouraged by the collaborative progress of staffing and service delivery.
“I’ve worked closely with Cr Adrienne Staples to raise passenger concerns and keep pressure on all parties to deliver,” says Butterick.
“Resuming a full schedule of weekday trains is a step in the right direction. While there’s still work to do, particularly around infrastructure and resilience, this is a sign that progress is being made.”
Bus replacements will continue to play a role in maintaining service continuity during planned works or unexpected disruptions, Tawharu adds.
“Bus replacements play an important role in a rail network. Less convenient and comfortable, yes, but buses ensure passengers can continue to travel between Masterton and Wellington when rail services are unavailable.”
Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and travel using the latest information on the Metlink website, app, or by calling 0800 801 700.