Auckland faces busy weekend with major events amid rail closures, bad weather

SailGP is among the many sporting and music events on offer in the City of Sails this weekend. Photo / SailGP

• Auckland faces a busy weekend with major events and adverse weather impacting travel.
• The entire rail network is closed for maintenance, with replacement buses and extra event buses in operation.
• Some ferry services are cancelled due to the SailGP exclusion zone, with alternative buses available.

Aucklanders face a busy weekend in the City of Sails with major sporting and music events set to take place, but with adverse weather encroaching and the entire rail network out of action, it’s likely to be a slow commute everywhere in the city.

The action kicked off last night, with Eden Park hosting American country singer Luke Combs. The global superstar will become the first artist of his genre to headline at the stadium for two consecutive shows on Friday and Saturday.

But it’s not all glamour in Auckland, with a “rain-bearing weather system” set to move over the upper North Island from this morning as SailGP makes its long-awaited debut on the Waitematā Harbour.

“A strengthening easterly wind brings showers in Northland and Auckland from Saturday, with possible heavy rain and strong easterlies in exposed places,” said MetService meteorologist Surprise Mhlongo.

Despite potential showers, it’s looking like temperatures will be relatively high and a slight breeze is also expected.

“The easterlies might be gusty at times from Friday noon. The expected maximum temperature for both days [Friday and Saturday] is 24C,” Mhlongo said.

Football fans flocking to Go Media Stadium in Penrose to catch a glimpse of Auckland FC as they take on Melbourne City FC from 5pm are advised to pack some wet weather gear.

‘Allow plenty of time’: Entire rail network closed, some ferries cancelled

Auckland Transport’s (AT) group manager of public transport operations, Rachel Cara, encouraged event-goers across the city to check their travel options and “allow plenty of time” this weekend.

“Auckland’s rail network is still closed this weekend while KiwiRail and City Rail Link teams complete vital maintenance work and network upgrades ahead of most train services starting to run again from January 28,” Cara said.

“Rail replacement buses will be running while the trains are out of action along with all of AT’s regular weekend bus services, meaning that there will still be plenty of public transport options for people to get around.”

Cara said with the rail network out of action, AT had organised extra special event buses to get Luke Combs fans to his concerts at Eden Park on Friday and Saturday.

“There will be more than 100 special event buses transporting fans to Eden Park from the city centre and North Shore and back again at the end of the concert,” Cara said.

“Because it takes longer to clear a large crowd with buses than trains there will be longer than usual wait times at the end of the concert, so we’re asking people to be patient and consider all their options.”

Additional park-and-ride and shuttle bus services will operate from Greenlane’s Alexandra Park.

Waitematā (Britomart) Station, will be closed from 15 to 21 Jan for CRL works. Rail replacement buses and normal services will be available. Details here: https://t.co/G69sDA95t7. pic.twitter.com/I13ksxUUxL

— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) January 11, 2024

Meanwhile, some Auckland ferry services have been foiled from Friday to Sunday due to the SailGP exclusion zone.

“An exclusion zone will be put in place on the Waitematā Harbour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons around the SailGP race area to make sure that the SailGP F50 boats can safely train, race at speeds and there is a safe area for all the spectator boats away from other maritime traffic,” AT said.

AT’s ferry services to Bayswater, Birkenhead, Hobsonville Point and West Harbour will not run between 1pm and 6pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Alternative bus services will be available from each of the affected terminals.

Ferry services to Devonport, Gulf Harbour, Half Moon Bay and Pine Harbour will continue to operate through the weekend because they do not travel through the exclusion zone. However, AT has advised there may be minor delays to these services.

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