Overzealous contractors preparing for a weekend shutdown of Wellington's rail network today cut off the power a day earlier than scheduled, plunging the morning commute of thousands into chaos.
KiwiRail euphemistically noted that the contractors "went further than they were expected to..."
The contractors were doing work in preparation for an upgrade of the overhead wiring at the entry to, and just north of, Wellington station.
The problems started around 6.30am when a northbound commuter train's pantograph (the mechanism by which power is transferred from the overhead wiring to the unit) became entangled in the wiring.
Shortly afterwards, a southbound unit had the same problem.
As a result, all trains on the Wellington network were suspended.
KiwiRail said it hoped to restore full services early this afternoon.
In the meantime Tranz Metro was moving passengers by bus between Wellington and Petone and Wellington and Porirua.
Usually, 10,000 to 11,000 people took the train in the morning, though the number was lower today due to school holidays, KiwiRail spokesman Nigel Parry said.
NZPA