Four protesters have been swiftly arrested after glueing themselves to a busy Wellington road during rush hour traffic this morning.

Police are using acetone to unglue the protesters and have been seen carrying one man away after he refused to walk.

The protest, which aims to put pressure on the Government to restore passenger rail services around the country, follows a similar demonstration on Monday, in which four protesters were also arrested and charged.

The group caused havoc in the capital last year with multiple protests in busy road areas around the region, including Transmission Gully and the entrance to the Terrace Tunnel.

Today’s protest began about 8am, with police showing up just moments later.

Three of the people have been removed from the road but one remains glued.

Passenger rail protesters glued themselves to the road at the Basin Reserve. Photo / Vita Molyneux

Traffic has backed up down Adelaide Rd, with multiple cars seen executing U-turns and driving back into Newtown.

Police are directing traffic away, and traffic buildup has been minimal.

After being placed under arrest, the four protesters lay flat on the road. One refused to walk after being unglued and had to be carried to a waiting paddy wagon.

A member of the public applauded the protesters.

“I love your cause, keep doing it,” they told the group. Other members of the public called the group “morons” and “idiots” and told them to “get out of the road”.

The group revealed their plans this morning to protest “relatively central” in the city, beginning just before 8am.

The group says it will continue to protest until the Government commits to two measures; restore affordable nationwide passenger rail and make local public transport free.

The protesters set up this morning at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Photo / Vita Molyneux

Rosemary Penwarden, a spokeswoman for the protesters, said this morning she is unapologetic for the protests.

“We accept that what we do includes inconvenience and stress for motorists, and discomfort and possible arrest for Restore Passenger Rail supporters. We do not apologise. The risk of doing nothing is far, far greater.”

She said the charges faced by four members of the group of endangering traffic are “ridiculous”.

“Restore Passenger Rail supporters make their actions as safe as possible. Traffic is always slowed to a standstill until supporters sit. Ambulance services are notified.”

Superintendent Corrie Parnell, Wellington District Commander, said that people must be aware they will face consequences for blocking roads, due to the extremely high risk.

He said the protesters themselves run a high risk of being injured - but also elevate the risk of the wider community.

“Traffic is forced to take evasive action to avoid collision and emergency services may be prohibited from attending emergencies.

“Due to the seriousness of these risks, any protesters impeding traffic can expect that they will be arrested and charged with endangering transport.”

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has pleaded with the group to stop the disruption, saying it is dangerous and alienates people from the cause.

 “They’re stopping many of Wellington’s residents, those who probably support their cause overall and interrupting their lives...they need to be focusing on the Government, not day-to-day citizens.”

She said moving forward, she would be working with the police for future protests but urged the group to come and talk to her.

“I’m urging them as strongly as possible – please don’t do this kind of protest again.”