The Capital Connection links the city of Palmerston North, as well as the towns of Shannon and Levin, to the Wellington Region.

Additionally, the Northern Explorer stops in Palmerston North and Taumarunui six-times-a-week (three in each direction) while travelling between Auckland and Wellington.

[4][5] As the region consists of two cities as well as numerous towns and rural areas, bus services operate as part of three distinct networks that interconnect.

The neighbouring village of Ashhurst is connected to Palmerston North's urban bus services, as is the city's airport and Massey University.

The route, named Te Ngaru The Tide, runs on 20-minute frequencies between Castlecliff and Aramoho via the city centre bus corridor.

The surveying of many of the region’s settlements -and particularly those away from the coast- coincided with the development of the North Island Main Trunk line during the late 19th century.

It is proposed that the Capital Connection’s services be expanded as to enable trains to run multiple times per day.