Regional Train Services

The Capital Connection

The Capital Connection is a regional passenger commuter train service operating between Palmerston North, Shannon, Levin, Otaki and Wellington featuring air conditioned, centrally heated carriages with large panoramic windows and disable facilities.

As this is a commuter rail service and reservations are not available. Tickets and monthly passes for this train are available from Metlink ticket office - Wellington Railway Station, Paraparaumu Railway Station, Palmerston North I-Site in the Square or Tickets only from the Palmerston North Railway Station or the Train Manager on the day of travel.

The Capital  Connection operates one daily service each way - Monday to Friday. There are no services on Saturday, Sunday, or New Zealand Public Holidays including Christmas Day. 

Travel time from Wellington to Palmerston North is 2 hours.

For timetable and fare information concerning The Capital Connection (Wellington/Otaki/Levin/Palmerston North) train service - please phone Metlink on 0800-801-700 tollfree in New Zealand or click for online fares and timetable information.

There are no regional passenger train services from Palmerston North to Masterton, Napier, Hastings, Wanganui or New Plymouth.

The Wairarapa Connection

The Wairarapa Connection is a regional commuter passenger train service that operates daily between Masterton, Carterton, Featherston and Wellington with air-conditioned, centrally heated carriages with large panaromic windows and disable facilities.

The Wairarapa Connection is a commuter rail service, so reservations are not required. Tickets and monthly passes for this service are available from Tranz Metro ticket office - Wellington Railway Station, Featherston Railway Station or tickets only from the Masterton Railway Station or Train Manager on the day of travel.

The Wairarapa Connection operates Five daily services each way (Mon - Thu), Six daily services each way (Fri) and two daily services each way (Sat, Sun, Public Holidays). 

Travel time from Wellington to Featherston is 1 hour and to Masterton is 1 hour 45 minutes.

The Wairarapa Connection also stops at Woodside (For Greytown), Matarawa, Carterton, Solway and Renall Street. There are connecting local bus services from Woodside for Greytown and Featherston for Martinborough.

For timetable and fare information The Wairarapa Connection (Wellington/Featherston/Woodside/Carterton/Masterton) train service - please phone Metlink on 0800-801-700 tollfree in New Zealand or click for online timetable information.

There are no passenger train/rail service between from Featherston or Masterton to Palmerston North, Hastings or Napier

There are no regional passenger train services to or from - Paihia (Bay of Islands), Whangarei, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Dunedin, Mt Cook, Nelson, Westport, Hokitika, Fox or Franz Josef Glaciers, Wanaka, Te Anau, Queenstown or Invercargill.