Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
Summer Rail Closure Means Bumpy Ride Ahead for Wairarapa Commuters
Wairarapa commuters are being warned to prepare for a month of buses, disruptions and, according to one regional councillor, potentially “vomit-inducing” journeys over the Remutaka Hill this summer.
The Wairarapa rail line will close from December 26 until January 26 while KiwiRail undertakes a major programme of upgrades aimed at improving reliability and preparing the network for the arrival of new Tūhono trains later this decade.
For passengers, however, the immediate reality will be far less glamorous. Train services will be replaced by buses for much of the route, forcing travellers onto the winding Remutaka Hill road at the busiest holiday time of the year.
At a Greater Wellington Regional Council meeting, councillor Quentin Duthie highlighted the challenge facing operators.
“Bus replacements for the Wairarapa Line are always challenging,” he said, noting the difficult balance between accessibility requirements and passenger comfort.
“The comfortable coaches are not compliant with accessibility standards, but if you put on a compliant bus, it is a bone-shaking and vomit-inducing ride over the hill.”
Duthie questioned how the council could make what is clearly an inferior service as comfortable as possible for passengers, many of whom rely on the rail link to commute to and from Wellington.
Council staff advised that the current plan is to operate a combination of coaches and accessible buses to meet passengers’ needs during the closure.
Councillors also raised concerns about confusion surrounding fares, particularly as some replacement coaches are not equipped with Snapper ticketing technology. The council unanimously backed recommendations seeking better communication around payment options and passenger information before the shutdown begins.
The disruption comes at a difficult time for Wairarapa rail users, who have already endured persistent reliability issues. Latest Metlink figures show only 44 percent of Wairarapa Line services arrived on time during August.
Wairarapa councillor John Hart acknowledged the significant inconvenience facing commuters but said the upgrades were necessary to secure the network’s future.
The works will include new level-crossing barriers and a modern signalling system designed to increase capacity and improve safety.
For now, however, passengers are being asked to endure several weeks of buses, delays and hill-country travel in the hope that a more reliable railway eventually emerges on the other side.
