Metlink unveils major upgrades to Wellington city bus services

Credit: Metlink

In a significant move to enhance public transportation in Wellington, Metlink has announced a series of improvements set to roll-out from 28 January 2024. Leading this transformation is the introduction of a new high-frequency bus route, Route 4, connecting Strathmore Park to Wilton/Mairangi Road.

The key improvements of this initiative include:

• Route 4 Debut: Serving commuters between Strathmore Park and Wilton/Mairangi Road, Route 4 will operate at a high frequency, with buses running every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends. This route will pass through key locations such as Newtown, Wellington Regional Hospital, the central city and Victoria University’s Kelburn campus
• Route 20 Extension: Route 20 will now be extended to Wellington Railway Station, providing a more comprehensive coverage for passengers
• Karori Services Boosted: Additional morning peak trips are set to bolster bus services in Karori, with Route 33, 34 and 2 all receiving increased frequency
• Hataitai and Mt Victoria Upgrades: Passengers in Hataitai and Mt Victoria will benefit from added morning peak trips on Route 35, enhancing accessibility
• Frequency Improvements: Route 26 will see its peak frequency increased to every 30 minutes, while Route 18 will experience a boost in off-peak frequency to the same interval. Additional services aligned with Wellington High School bell times have also been incorporated.

The developments, initially planned for 2019, have been postponed due to the national driver shortage resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Greater Wellington Transport Chair Thomas Nash said: “Public transport is a win-win for climate and convenience. Reliable public transport services make the most efficient use of our roads, freeing up space for people who need to use cars and reducing emissions by cutting down the number of car journeys people need to make. We are also reducing the use of paper, with our website now making it easy for passengers to print select schedules at home, limiting the number of paper timetable brochures we need to print.”

Replacing Route 12, Route 4 is poised to become a vital link, addressing community needs and contributing to a more sustainable transportation system. The route aims to optimise road usage, reduce emissions and promote the convenience of public transport.

Metlink Group Manager Samantha Gain said: “Insights shared by regular public transport users were integral for shaping the improvements and designing the new route. Their feedback also helped us align timetables with bell times at St Mary’s College, Wellington Girls’ College and Queen Margaret College.”