The biggest disruption is a three-day full network closure planned during the school holidays. <\/p>\n
Other full closures will occur over the long Easter weekend and Anzac Day weekend.<\/p>\n
An Auckland Transport spokesperson said deferring the closures could mean an even bigger strain on the network down the track as the City Rail Link (CRL) draws towards completion. <\/p>\n
The CRL is due to open later this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try to keep closures to weekends, public holidays and school holidays, so deferring these closures might mean the work would need to take place during school terms when passenger numbers are typically highest.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said the partial and full closures allowed for works and maintenance to improve the network.<\/p>\n
That included works connected with the CRL opening, Henderson Station works, network-wide systems tests and timetable trials.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, ongoing upgrade works include level crossing improvements, signal works and commissioning, track infrastructure renewals and replacements, safety upgrades, various station renewal works and new south station works.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said AT tried to \u201cbalance\u201d the important work while \u201cremaining conscious that ongoing rail closures are never a good thing, with greater awareness at the moment of the need to reduce closures and impacts as more people turn to [public transport] over the coming weeks<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, we have reduced the required time for closure by one day for the network-wide systems tests and timetable trials between Easter and Anzac Day.<\/p>\n \u201cFurther ongoing review to reduce closures will continue.\u201d<\/p>\n Reeves said the timing was \u201cincredibly unfortunate\u201d.<\/p>\n However, he agreed it was a double-edged sword.<\/p>\n \u201cIdeally, we would like to have it pushed back perhaps through to mid June. However, the City Rail Link has to open this year.\u201d<\/p>\n He hoped bus replacements for the train lines would be up to scratch after being unreliable, in his experience.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you get a rail bus replacement, many times they either don\u2019t arrive, or one bus arrives, but there are 60 people at a bus stop,\u201d Reeves said. <\/p>\n Reeves said he was nervous that new public transport users might be deterred when pressure fell on the bus network while train services were offline. <\/p>\n He asked those users to \u201cgrin and bear it\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cApril is going to be a rough patch for Auckland rail users.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if they\u2019re new to using a train, just bear with it. Yes, use the rail bus replacement service; at least you\u2019re going to save quite a lot of money on fuel and parking. So there\u2019s always that upside to it, no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n KiwiRail chief metro officer David Gordon said the agency had tried to keep the planned closures over periods where people were not travelling to work or school to minimise disruption.<\/p>\n Gordon said the only full network closure during popular commuter times was between Monday, April 13 and Wednesday, April 15. <\/p>\n Timetable testing for the CRL would be undertaken during this time.<\/p>\n \u201cThis testing is critical to launching CRL in the second half of 2026, and pausing this programme of work would only result in delays in bringing better train services to Aucklanders when CRL opens.\u201d<\/p>\n Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina told Ryan Bridge TODAY the works were essential for safety.<\/p>\n \u201cSimple as that. Safety, making sure that the trains, when we end up opening, will run on time. It\u2019s around that, pure and simple.\u201d<\/p>\n Auckland Minister Simeon Brown has been approached for comment. <\/p>\n The network closure comes as the Government plans for future scenarios where the country could face a shortage of crude oil.<\/p>\nPeople are opting to use public transport as fuel prices spiral. Photo \/ Corey Fleming<\/p>\n