Metlink on its way to new bus network for Wellington region

Valid from: 07/03/2018

The coming months will see a major upgrade of Greater Wellington’s public transport network, the first major changes to our public transport services and infrastructure in 20 years.

“We’re on our way to an integrated public transport network in July, and that means a new look and new services for Metlink that are focused on what customers have told us they want,” says Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Sustainable Transport Chair Barbara Donaldson.

“A key part our new network is giving people new and better ways to connect that enhance their lives. We are creating a public transport system that will help commuters, students, visitors and day-trippers to connect to what’s great in our region.

“It will be simpler, more connected and consistent, giving our customers more choice about where and when to travel.

“The use of buses, trains and ferries is predicted to increase significantly between now and 2024. To keep our customers’ lives connected, we need a public transport network that can carry more of us to more places, every day of the week.

“The changes have been years in the planning and are based on talking to our customers who live in our Greater Wellington Region communities, as well as looking at what international cities do. They include new timetables and routes to ensure more frequent services that better connect with each other, new buses that are right-sized to the task, new generation electric buses, and Snapper as the most convenient and best value way to pay on all Metlink buses,” says Councillor Donaldson.

“We also need to be realistic – these changes will take a while to bed down and there may be a few sticking points along the way. For some of us, some changes may take a bit of getting used to. We will be doing our best every day to make things better and promise to give you as much information and help that you need along the way.”

The bus changes are rolling out in three phases – in the Wairarapa from 30 April, the Hutt Valley and Eastbourne from 17 June, and in Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti from 15 July.

For Kapiti, Wairarapa and Porirua, the biggest change for customers is likely to be the move to Snapper and some timetable changes. In Wellington there will be a simpler network of routes with bus hubs where feeder buses from outer suburbs will connect to main routes. Across the region there will also be some changes to bus and train timetables for better connections.

Information now available on the Metlink website includes a new network journey planner that lets customers see what their new bus routes and numbers in Wellington City will look like from 15 July, and information about changes to bus services by suburb. Signing up to MyMetlink will provide updates on route and timetable information as it becomes available.

“Signing up to MyMetlink is one of the best ways you can keep up to date with what this actually means for you and how you can be more connected,” Councillor Donaldson says. “Getting onto it early means you’ll know well ahead of the changeover date about any timetable or route changes, and you’ll get the best value from day one because you’ll have your Snapper card organised.

“Our new network is designed to offer our customers the best of our region. It will give us all a smoother and more comfortable travel experience. That will help our region grow and prosper, benefitting the lives of everyone in Greater Wellington.”

KEY FACTS:

• Bus network changes rolled out in three phases – Wairarapa on 30 April, the Hutt Valley on 17 June, and Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti on 15 July. 
• Metlink will be putting out detailed information on how the changes will affect each area as we get closer to each area’s changeover time.
• Signing up to MyMetlink is one of the best ways to keep up to date on the changes.
• $1.3 billion invested in operating and improving public transport services and infrastructure over five years.
• One Metlink brand for travel, recognised across our whole region.
• Journeys on buses, trains and ferries are forecast to increase from 38 million to 42 million trips a year, between now and 2024.
• Some bus routes are changing so we can deliver more frequent and reliable services.
• Snapper replaces all other bus payment cards. Acceptable on over 400 buses serving the Wellington region, it’s the most convenient and best value way to pay.
• Free bus-to-bus transfer within a 30 minute window when using a Snapper card.
• Over 250 specially built low emission buses on the road from 15 July 2018. Another 90 new buses on the road in early 2019.
• Bus fleet will include 60 new double decker buses to help reduce congestion, plus 10 fully electric double deckers from mid-2018 and another 22 by 2021.

For more information visit: The Metlink website to download the Go-to Guide for getting around on the new network.