Rail passengers on the Northern Explorer have been transferred to buses after a freight train broke down in the Mangaweka tunnel.
Kiwirail has confirmed passengers were taken off the northbound train at Marton to continue the journey to Auckland by bus.
It couldn't say how many people have been affected, what caused the southbound freight train to break down or how long it's likely to be before the line is cleared.
The Northern Explorer runs six services per week between Wellington and Auckland.
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