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Public transport is often the easiest way to get around Auckland during the festive and summer season.
However, for those planning a ‘stay-cation’ in Auckland, there will be changes to public transport services during the summer holiday period. With many Aucklanders out of town, and some workplaces closed, demand is lower for many of our buses, ferries and trains during this time.
The main disruption will be on trains with the closure of the Auckland rail network from December 27 to January 28, 2026, to enable crews to work efficiently and safely. The network will be fully closed for most of this time, with the exception of some Southern/Eastern and Onehunga Line services returning between January 19 and 26.
Auckland Transport Director of Public Transport and Active Modes, Stacey van der Putten said that when trains aren’t running, invasive work can be completed much more quickly and safely.
“This work is essential to getting City Rail Link up and running, without it we simply won’t be able to run more trains, more often”, van der Putten said.
“KiwiRail’s work completed on sections of the Southern, Eastern and Western lines has already improved reliability. Over summer, the Rail Network Rebuild programme outlined by KiwiRail a year ago will be completed, with work across at least 40 different sites.
“Rebuilding aging foundations, installing modern drainage and renewing old assets that slow down trains will help ensure we get the most out of CRL into the future as services are increased.”
A summary of the changes for trains, buses and ferries is below.
Rail services
December 27 to January 18
Full rail network closure.
January 19 to 26
Trains only run between Newmarket to Puhinui, and to Manukau on the Southern Line & on the Onehunga Line. No trains are running on the Western and Eastern Lines.
January 27 & 28
Full network closure for City Rail Link testing.
Bus services
Bus services will be reduced from Thursday, December 25, to Friday, January 2, due to lower commuter demand during the holiday period.
In general, services will operate a weekend timetable, but we encourage everyone to plan their journey ahead using the AT Mobile app or the AT website.
December 31 (New Year’s Eve)
Saturday timetable, additional services after midnight.
January 1 (New Year’s Day)
Sunday timetable
January 2
Sunday timetable, late-night services equivalent to Friday/Saturday night timetable.
January 3 onwards
Regular timetables resume. Some routes have specific changes that differ, including Route 321 (Middlemore Station to Britomart via Greenlane Hospital), which will operate on an adjusted weekday timetable to service the hospitals, and Route 395 (Waiuku to Papakura), which will be limited to one morning (6.48am) and one evening (6.33pm) trip.
More information is available at at.govt.nz/holidaytimetables.
