Metlink says buses were replacing trains for the majority of the network on Tuesday morning. Photo: RNZ / Krystal Gibbens
Wellington region rail commuters have been welcomed back from the long weekend with a raft of disruptions.
Metlink said buses were replacing trains for the majority of the network on Tuesday morning because of a points fault affecting signal lights.
It said this was not linked to the track network upgrade work over the weekend.
Wairarapa commuters were being delayed on Tuesday morning because of rust that built up while the tracks were closed for the upgrade.
Trains must slow to 10 km/h on affected level crossings until the rust has been worn off by several trains.
Kiwirail said it was investigating the causes of Tuesday morning's cancellations and delays on the Wellington metro network.
Metlink provided bus replacements for many of the disrupted services.
"We have had a series of small issues on the Wellington metro network that have required trains to make unscheduled stops or slow down," Wellington metro infrastructure manager Manjot Singh said.
"They have had a compounding effect resulting in some service cancellations and delays."
"These issues include some areas of high ballast on the Kāpiti Line following upgrade work, some signals related issues on the Johnsonville, Kapiti and Hutt Valley Lines, and rusty rails which have slowed Wairarapa services through numerous level crossings."
"We carried out a lot of upgrade work while the network was closed over King's Birthday Weekend and apologise for the disruption caused this morning," Singh said.
"Now the morning peak is over our track teams will be investigating all of these issues and will aim to urgently resolve them."
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