Wellington.Scoop
Kapiti Line train services were suspended between Porirua and Waikanae this morning, because of a track fault which Metlink later described as a problem with overhead wires.

At 9am Metlink said the affected section had been inspected and the fault “has been confirmed.”

Maintainers were on site to fix the fault.

Metlink said it had sourced limited bus replacements to shuttle between Porirua and Waikanae, however, it recommended making alternative travel arrangements if possible due to a shortage of buses.

There was better news at 9.30:

We have received clearance to resume services on the Hutt Valley Line after the track fault has now been repaired, please expect delays as we return to timetable. Services on the Melling Line will resume from the 10:17am service from Wellington to Melling.

KPL: We have clearance! Services on the Kāpiti Line have resumed https://t.co/5hOU5ldkWy

— Metlink Wellington (@metlinkwgtn) November 22, 2020

Later in the morning, there were problems on the Hutt Valley line. A points fault cancelled four trains between Trentham and Upper Hutt. Other trains were delayed.

HVL: The 11:50am svc from WELL to UPPE and the 12:40pm from UPPE to WELL are cancelled between TREN and UPPE due to a points fault

— Metlink Wellington (@metlinkwgtn) November 22, 2020

We’d like to apologise for service disruptions on our rail network this morning, both on the Hutt Valley line between Ngauranga and Petone and between Porirua and Waikanae on the Kapiti Line.

— Metlink Wellington (@metlinkwgtn) November 22, 2020

The disruption on the Hutt Valley Line followed overnight maintenance by KiwiRail which resulted in a broken sleeper on the line. The line is now open. The problems on the Kapiti Line stemmed from a KiwiRail maintenance issue relating to overhead wires.

— Metlink Wellington (@metlinkwgtn) November 22, 2020