Rail commuters again disrupted by industrial action

Industrial action continued to disrupt the travel plans of Wellington rail commuters today, as a stalemate over a contracts dispute between rail maintenance workers and their employer Ontrack left many trains at a standstill.

A reduced train timetable has been running since the workers imposed an overtime ban from last Wednesday.

Tranz Metro has run an "enhanced Saturday" timetable, which uses about half the trains it normally does on the weekdays on the Hutt, Porirua and Johnsonville lines.

Thousands of passengers have had to endure the limited service, with reports of some passengers being left on platforms, as some trains have been full.

Ontrack and the union will resume their talks this week in an effort to break the impasse.

- NZPA