Electric trains to Pukekohe Electric trains to Pukekohe
Auckland’s metro rail network was electrified in 2015, allowing Auckland Transport to operate electric trains. Electrification is now being extended to Pukekohe.
Project status: under construction
Project zone: South
On this page
Project summary
In early 2020, KiwiRail received funding to extend electrification of the Auckland rail network from Papakura to Pukekohe. This formed part of the government’s New Zealand Upgrade Programme.
Once the project is complete, customers travelling from Pukekohe will no longer need to switch trains at Papakura. This will provide faster, quieter, cleaner journeys in modern electric trains while enabling more frequent trains to service Pukekohe.
The project involves:
- redeveloping Pukekohe Station
- extending the overhead power system from Papakura to Pukekohe
- upgrading the existing track, signals and level crossings.
Auckland Transport will resume passenger train services in early 2025, after KiwiRail complete work on this section of track, including electrification and KiwiRail’s Rail Network Rebuild.
Visit KiwiRail’s project page for more details on site-specific work.
Redeveloping Pukekohe Station
KiwiRail and Auckland Transport are working together to upgrade Pukekohe Station to support more frequent electric trains and increasing growth in Pukekohe. This will complement the redeveloped bus interchange built at Pukekohe Station in 2018.
The new station will include:
- a new platform layout that will initially be built to accommodate our current 6-car trains, with the option to extend them to 9-car trains in the future, providing more capacity
- modern passenger facilities such as new shelters, AT HOP machines and other accessibility improvements
- new overhead power masts and a track layout for trains to pass easily and safely through the station area
- new electric train stabling (where trains are stored when not in use).
Temporary changes to services
Auckland Transport have made some changes to local services to support KiwiRail to complete works on the rail network between Papakura and Pukekohe.
Pukekohe Rail Shuttle
In November 2021, KiwiRail and Auckland Transport announced that the Pukekohe Rail Shuttle service that connects Papakura and Pukekohe would no longer run from mid-2022. This is to allow KiwiRail to complete significant construction works on this section of the rail network safely and on schedule.
Auckland Transport will replace the shuttle by extending Southern Line trains to Pukekohe after KiwiRail complete work on this section of track, including electrification and KiwiRail’s Rail Network Rebuild.
Train services to Pukekohe will resume in early 2025.
394 Bus Service
To get between Papakura Station and Pukekohe while KiwiRail complete the works, Auckland Transport will operate the 394 bus between Pukekohe, Paerata Rise and Papakura Station.
During the closure, the cost of the bus trip will be 1 cent. If you transfer to another bus or train within 30 minutes, the 394 bus is free.
Customers must use an AT HOP card on the 394 service.
Download a map of the 394 bus service (PDF 1.94MB).
Bus operating hours
The 394 bus is scheduled to replicate the affected train service as much as possible, running 7 days a week, including late-night departures on Fridays.
The 394 bus will run:
- every 15 to 20 minutes at peak commuting times on weekdays
- every 20 to 30 minutes at all other times.
Buses have been scheduled to allow for a comfortable transfer time to trains at Papakura Station and other local buses at Pukekohe.
To view timetables and travel options, visit Journey Planner or use the AT Mobile app.