Auckland (The NZ Today)
A vegetation fire near Parnell caused major disruption to Auckland’s train network this morning, forcing the temporary closure of Waitematā Station and the cancellation of several services.
Fire and Emergency crews were called to the Fred Ambler Lookout area at about 4.10am after reports of a fire in nearby bush. Crews from Parnell, Auckland City, Remuera and Grey Lynn responded, with four fire trucks and a ladder truck sent to the scene.
Firefighters managed to contain the blaze, but remained in the area through the morning to deal with hotspots and make sure the fire was fully extinguished.
Police were also notified of the incident.
Because of the emergency response, Auckland Transport closed Waitematā Station, Auckland’s central city train station, until further notice.
The closure affected multiple lines. Southern and Western Line trains were cancelled between Waitematā and Newmarket. Onehunga Line services were cancelled between Penrose and Newmarket, while Eastern Line trains were cancelled between Sylvia Park and Waitematā, although services continued to run to Newmarket.
Auckland Transport advised passengers that scheduled buses would accept train tickets and AT HOP cards during the disruption.
Commuters were urged to check the latest travel updates before heading out, as the fire response created delays across parts of the rail network during the morning peak.
