Porirua rugby fans heading into Wellington for the All Blacks’ test against Italy this Saturday are being urged to travel early, with extra trains expected to be busy.
Metlink will add extra carriages on the Kāpiti, Hutt Valley and Johnsonville lines for the match at Hnry Stadium on Saturday 11 July.
The game kicks off at 5.10pm, and about 20,000 fans are expected to use their match tickets to travel on Metlink bus and rail services.
Standard weekend timetables will run before the game, but additional trains will leave Wellington Station after fulltime on the Kāpiti, Hutt Valley and Johnsonville lines to help fans get home.
Match tickets can be used on Metlink bus and train services at no extra cost on Saturday. Passengers simply need to show their event ticket to the driver or onboard staff.
The free travel does not apply to harbour ferries, Airport Express buses, or Te Hunga Whaikaha Total Mobility taxis.
An extra harbour ferry sailing will leave Queens Wharf at about 7.30pm after the game, but bookings are required through East by West.
Buses will run to normal Saturday timetables after the match, with some larger double-decker buses replacing standard buses.
Metlink says passengers should expect busy services, allow extra time and check the Metlink app or website before travelling.
Rail lines will remain open on Friday 10 July and Saturday 11 July during the Matariki long weekend, but there will be disruption on Sunday 12 July while KiwiRail carries out upgrade work.
On Sunday, buses will replace trains all day on the Hutt Valley Line.
In the evening, buses will also replace trains on the Johnsonville Line, and on the Kāpiti Line between Wellington and Porirua.
The rail work is part of wider upgrades aimed at improving reliability and preparing the Wellington network for the arrival of Tūhono trains and higher-capacity services from 2030.
Off-peak fares will apply across the long weekend, including on the Matariki public holiday on Friday, when Metlink services will run to Sunday timetables.