Concerns were raised that once the Kapiti Line services were extended north from Paraparaumu to Waikanae, the Capital Connection would lose passengers.

NZTA's public transport funding criteria require that a service must reduce traffic on a congested road.

[2] The business case argued that: In March 2013, the Member of Parliament for Palmerston North, Iain Lees-Galloway, presented a petition of 2,000 signatures supporting the service at a parliamentary select committee hearing.

[12] In April 2013, KiwiRail said to keep the service operating, it would have increased ticket prices by 40 percent, and have at least 61 passengers on board in each direction.

KiwiRail Scenic Journeys said there would be maintenance and repairs for each of the carriages, at staggered intervals over the next 12 months, to improve the service.

This includes one by Palmerston North City Councillor Chris Teo-Sherrell to terminate the service in Waikanae to connect to the Kapiti Tranz Metro services, and another by Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith to double the daily frequency.

The train operates Monday to Friday from Palmerston North to Wellington in the morning, returning in the evening.

On Sunday 19 June 1994, a weekend service from Palmerston North to Wellington and return started.

Horizons note that there is opportunity to create a Whanganui – Palmerston North train service akin to this inter-regional proposal.

On Monday 15 November 1999, a new train entered service, made up of seven (later eight) British Rail Mark 2 cars and the second former Southerner modular 11 kW power and baggage van, with 90 kW generator and larger luggage space made up from the middle and expanded non-handbrake end compartments.

12 former Maxx /Auckland Transport SA class used on the Auckland Suburban network have been relocated from storage in Tauramanui.

They are currently being refurbished to a similar design of the new Te Huia Hamilton to Auckland train under the Upgrade New Zealand Programme.

In 2019, the GWRC proposed replacing in 2025 the Capital Connection and Wairarapa Connection trains with 15 four-car dual-mode multiple units, to operate from overhead power from Wellington to Upper Hutt or an on-board power source north of Upper Hutt; to cost $415 million.