Auckland commuters are likely to face delays again today, even though Britomart Station has now re-opened after yesterday's train derailment near a platform.
Auckland Council confirmed this morning that "limited train services" were now running at Britomart every 20 minutes.
TRAIN UPDATE: 5.58am
Limited train services are operating to Britomart every 20 minutes. South & East are travelling to Britomart. Western line to Newmarket only. Train shuttle between Onehunga and Penrose. Parnell station is open.
Meanwhile motorists also face potential delays with heavy fog blanketing parts of Auckland this morning.
THU 10 MAY - 6:15AM - FOG Please take extra care on the roads this morning with much of city blanketed in fog. Slow down, increase your following distance & remember to check blindspots before changing lanes. ^TP pic.twitter.com/rhvAd8CCio
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 9, 2018
The fog could cause problems at Auckland Airport this morning, with one Air NZ flight from Bali forced to divert to Melbourne. So far no domestic flights have been affected.
Yesterday's Britomart derailment crippled the busy station after three of six carriages derailed as a train arrived at the station at 9.45am yesterday. Some passengers described the accident as a sudden shake "like an earthquake".
The six-carriage train had 33 people on board but no one was injured.
Yesterday afternoon commuters told the Herald the closure had added as much as an hour to their trip home.
Louise Caro was aware of the closure of the station before arriving but was annoyed at the confusing planner provided by Auckland Transport detailing what bus she needed to catch.
She was on her way home from work to Morningside and expected the interim transport options would mean her commute was at least an hour longer.
UPDATE: From 9pm tonight Eastern Line services will only operate between Manukau and Panmure. No train services will operate from Panmure to the Strand after this time. There are no services to or from Parnell Station until further notice. https://t.co/kvCH4Pke1c
The commission arrived at the scene about 3pm and was now in control of the station, Auckland Transport media relations manager Mark Hannan said.
Transport Accident Investigation Commission senior communications adviser Simon Pleasants said investigators would be mapping, recording and gathering evidence from the site to make sure the re-railing crew had all the information they needed to get the train back on track.
He could not say if the train had been put back on the rail or when the station was likely to open.
"The commission opens an inquiry when it believes the circumstances of an accident or incident have - or are likely to have - significant implications for transport safety, or when the inquiry may allow the commission to make findings or recommendations to improve transport safety."
Pleasants said at 7pm commission investigators had completed their evidence gathering and had handed back control of the site to KiwiRail and Auckland Transport.
Eastern Line services will arrive at and depart from The Strand on a 20-minute frequency, Western and Southern Line services will arrive at and depart from Newmarket on a 20-minute frequency.
Onehunga Line services will run as a shuttle between Onehunga and Penrose, linking to Southern Line services.
Auckland Transport advised after 9pm the Eastern line services would only operate between Manukau and Panmure.
"No train services will operate from Panmure to the Strand after this time.
"There are no services to or from Parnell Station until further notice."
UPDATE: Britomart Station will remain closed tonight. This afternoon and tomorrow morning there will be delays and changes to where trains depart and arrive. Services will run on a 20 min frequency. Info here, and more updates to follow: https://t.co/dBd8RjC73Thttps://t.co/kvSRAzaSww