Auckland trains back running after early morning fire sparks major disruption

Saturday, 18 July 2026

Train services across Auckland are back up and running after being cancelled for hours “as a precaution”.

A vegetation fire near the Waitematā Station caused widespread disruptions for much of Saturday.

Auckland Transport confirmed to Stuff around midday that Waitematā Station had reopened, and regular train services had resumed after track inspections gave the all clear.

The centrally located major station had been temporarily closed following a scrub fire near Quay Park.

Southern and Western Line services were cancelled between Newmarket and Waitematā, while Eastern Line trains terminated at Newmarket. Onehunga Line services had also operated only between Onehunga and Penrose.

Scheduled bus operators had accepted rail tickets across all lines while services were disrupted.

Earlier, Fire and Emergency New Zealand had said crews were called to a vegetation fire at the Fred Ambler Lookout in Parnell at 4.10am.

At the height of the incident, five fire crews were at the scene battling a blaze measuring about 20m by 50m.

The fire has since been extinguished and crews have left the scene, FENZ said.

Police had told Stuff they were notified of a fire in the area. “AT have stopped trains as a precaution as far as I understand,” a police spokesperson said around 9am.

The disruption came on a day Auckland Transport had expected heavy demand on the network, with more than 85,000 people anticipated to attend three major sporting events across the city.

AT had said earlier this week buses, trains and roads were all expected to be heavily congested throughout the evening and had advised people to check journey planners before travelling.