Britomart track link to bring more delays

More rail delays are expected this weekend as the final tracks are laid to connect Auckland's new Britomart station with the rest of the rail network.

From next Monday, July 7, Tranz Metro commuter services and Tranz Scenic trains start using the station.

The final work, beginning on Friday, will involve laying the last portion of track by cutting through the old Auckland railway station platforms, and the commissioning of associated signalling.

If bad weather looks likely, the final work will be postponed for a week.

The final decision on whether to go ahead will be made on Friday morning.

The work will affect rail services into the city from Friday afternoon and Tranz Metro has special arrangements in place for commuters.

On Friday from 3.08pm all Western line services will end at Newmarket, but all Southern line trains will continue into Auckland.

Passengers bound for Auckland on the Western line will be able to transfer on to a Southern line train to reach their final destination, at no extra cost.

And from 3.45pm passengers travelling from Auckland to the Western line should catch Southern line services and transfer at Newmarket.

A Tranz Rail spokeswoman says some services during the Friday afternoon and evening peak will experience delays, as only two platforms at Auckland will be available for trains.

All services scheduled to arrive in Auckland after 7.35pm will end at Newmarket or Orakei, and a bus shuttle service will connect Newmarket-Auckland and Orakei-Auckland.

On Saturday Western and Southern line services via Newmarket will begin and end at Newmarket and a bus shuttle service will connect the Auckland station and Newmarket.

Tranz Scenic services will also begin and end at Newmarket on Saturday and Sunday, with a bus shuttle available to convey passengers to Auckland.

Only Platform Four at the old Auckland railway station will remain in use after July 7.

It will be rechristened The Strand Station and will be used for several loop services that will not go into Britomart.

Access will be from The Strand in Parnell.