Melling Station Closure
Melling Station Closure
Melling Station will close from 24 December 2025 as construction of the Melling Transport Improvements for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi gets underway.
The station and its park-and-ride facilities are set to remain closed for around three years. During this time, the Melling line will begin and end at Western Hutt.
While the station is closed, the area will be redesigned to accommodate a safer, more resilient and accessible transport system in Lower Hutt.
This will include:
- a new grade-separated (elevated) interchange at Melling
- a new City Link pedestrian bridge over Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River
- the relocation and upgrade of Melling train station and park-and-ride facilities to align with the new City Link pedestrian bridge
- upgrades to the existing stopbank which will give the river more room to move. This will protect the CBD and other valuable infrastructure assets to withstand the effects of a 1-in-440-year flood
- new and improved walking and cycling paths.
Metlink will keep you moving
While the station is closed, the Hutt Valley line will continue to provide frequent and fast connections from Waterloo, Woburn, Ava and Petone stations into Wellington. Fares from Waterloo are the same as those from Melling.
Other travel options include:
Bus connections
Buses #145 and #149 will take you to Waterloo station for easy connection, or you can take the #83 bus from Queensgate direct into Wellington.
Cycle options
Bike racks will be available at Waterloo and Petone stations for the roughly 1% of Melling Station passengers who may choose to continue cycling to access the rail network.
Temporary Park and Ride at Petone
A temporary Park and Ride is being built at Petone to help mitigate disruption to commuters and to accommodate the potential increased patronage.
Work will begin on the new car park facility from October 2025. Once complete, the car park will be operational from the beginning of December until approximately 2031.
Car park details
The new park and ride will:
- be walking distance to and from Petone station
- have approximately 130 new car parks, and
- include a pedestrian crossing on Pito-One Road.
What impact will works have?
The majority of works will happen during the day, however to minimise disruption to road users on both local roads and the state highway, we will also undertake some works at night.
Construction includes drainage and earthworks, fencing, pavement surfacing and line marking, as well as installation of new signs, streetlights, and CCTV systems.
Some tree removal work will also be required in the area.
Please expect some traffic management on both local roads and the state highway at times during construction, and follow any directions given by crews on site.
If you have any questions, please email info@teawakairangi.co.nz
Choose the route that works for you and stay up-to-date with options at: www.metlink.org.nz/mellingstation
Or, you can chat to Metlink staff who will be available at Melling station on the following days and times:
- Tuesday 11 November 7.30-9am
- Thursday 13 November 4.30pm-6pm
- Thursday 20 November 4.30pm-6pm
- Tuesday 9 December 7.30am-9am
- Thursday 18 December 4.30pm-6pm
Next steps
When the station reopens in its new location, road access will be limited until the wider programme improvements are fully complete. When constructed, the City Link bridge will connect pedestrian and cyclists from Lower Hutt CBD to the station.
We'll continue to share updates as they become available.
More information
- Stay up-to-date with the progress of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi by subscribing to the newsletter
- Facebook - Te Awa Kairangi - Delivering Riverlink
- Metlink - www.metlink.org.nz/mellingstation
Your questions answered
Who are the partners behind Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi?
Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi is a partnership between iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Ūpoko o Te Ika, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Greater Wellington, Hutt City Council and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. The programme is made up of three inter-dependent projects that aim to transform Lower Hutt by delivering critical flood protection, kaitiakitanga over the ecological health of Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River, transport improvements and the basis for a revitalised city centre.
How much is the whole project budgeted to cost?
The overall programme budget is $1.5 billion.
This is made up of funding contributions of:
- about $1 billion from NZTA
- $295 million from Greater Wellington Regional Council
- $180 million from Hutt City Council.
How much is set aside for the City Link Bridge?
Hutt City Council has a budget of $55M set aside for the City Link Bridge in the draft Annual Plan 2025/26. The cost will be subject to commercial procurement processes.
When will work on the pedestrian bridge start and finish?
Detailed design is expected to commence in 2026, with construction is expected to begin in 2027, as part of a co-ordinated delivery plan with completion scheduled to be in line with the Melling Station re-opening.
What benefits will the bridge bring?
The bridge is a key component of the Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi programme aimed at transforming Lower Hutt. Overall, it will significantly contribute to the accessibility and urban development of Lower Hutt with:
- Enhanced connectivity: The bridge will offer a direct link between the relocated Melling train Station and Lower Hutt's central city, facilitating easier movement for pedestrians and cyclists across Te Awa Kairangi/ Hutt River.
- Improved Accessibility: By connecting the city centre with public transport hubs, the bridge will make commuting more convenient, encouraging the use of sustainable transport options.
- Urban Revitalisation: The bridge is part of broader infrastructure upgrades designed to stimulate redevelopment along the river corridor, promoting residential and leisure activities that enhance the vibrancy of the area.
- Integration with active transport networks: The bridge will connect with planned cycling and walking paths, improving safety and accessibility.
When will the extra park and ride facilities be available at Petone Station?
The new car park, which will provide over 100 additional spaces, will be within walking distance of Petone station (on the corner of Priests Avenue and Pito-One Road).
Work will begin on the new car park facility from 6 October 2025. Once complete, the car park be operational from December until approximately 2031.
Most work will happen during the day however, some work will have to happen overnight – this will have some impact to the local road and state highway networks.
Disruption
What sort of traffic disruption is expected?
We’re committed to minimising the impact of construction as much as possible during this project.
As partners, we will continue to work closely with each other, alongside local businesses, residents, and transport providers to carefully plan and manage disruptions. This includes learning from similar projects across New Zealand to apply best practices and keep things running as smoothly as possible.
Some disruption will be inevitable, particularly with changes to how people travel around the city. At times, certain areas may need to be temporarily closed to ensure safety for everyone, whether they’re walking, cycling, driving, or using public transport.
We’ll provide regular updates well in advance, so you'll know what’s happening and can plan accordingly. Our goal is to keep the city and region moving while we deliver this important infrastructure.
While these disruptions may be inconvenient at times, this project will bring long-term benefits to the community. We appreciate your patience and understanding and encourage everyone to look out for one another during this time.