New Zealand: Rail disruptions anticipated July 3-5 following train derailment in Wellington

Event

A freight train derailed near the center of Wellington on the night (local time) of Tuesday, July 2, damaging a vital section of the track. There were no reports of injuries. Commuter rail service in the area has reportedly been disrupted as of Wednesday, July 3, and highways in the area are heavily congested. Several commuter train lines have been temporarily replaced by shuttle buses; service is expected to return to a regular timetable the morning of Thursday, July 4. Officials have also imposed speed restrictions until Friday, July 5, which could cause delays on the Hutt, Kapiti, and Wairarapa lines. Further information can be found on the Metlink website.

Advice

Individuals in the Wellington area are advised to monitor developments to the situation, confirm train reservations, maintain a flexible travel itinerary, and anticipate transportation disruptions and residual delays.