We appreciate the frustration Wairarapa Line passengers are experiencing at the moment with extended journey times.
$375 million is being invested to upgrade the aging Wairarapa Line, to improve its resilience and support more reliable and frequent trains. Some of the current delays are due to speed restrictions on the lines, which are put in place to ensure trains can keep running safely. Speed restrictions are often in places where upgrade work is going on, has just been done and needs time to bed in, or where major work is yet to be done – such as in the Remutaka Tunnel. They are also used when a track fault has been discovered and needs to be fixed.
Currently there are approximately 15 minutes of speed restriction delays on the line – which will be reduced over time.
Other factors also influence service reliability, such as short-term infrastructure faults and train crewing shortages.