Subscribe to RSSPetrol Price Driving Bus Increase
Higher fuel costs are proving positive for public transport use.
In the latest Infratil monthly report released today, NZ Bus says it is experiencing solid growth on many services, especially in Auckland -as we know from the recent patronage figures.
“The Auckland growth is also testament to the supportive approach being taken to public transport by Auckland Transport (the Auckland City transport agency) and a lot of past investment. Especially strong patronage growth is occurring on some of the longer routes which feed into the city while central routes have tended to remain flat, probably because of inner-city congestion.”
Things still aren’t so healthy in the capital after last year’s fare increases.
The report says: “Wellington and Hutt performance has continued to be uneven with the Regional Council’s fare increases of last October still having a significant impact while difficulties with train services appear to be also generally discouraging use of public transport.
“Nevertheless, some routes are registering growth and travel patterns are constantly reviewed to ensure lessons will have wider application.
Infratil’s latest report also notes that the Government continues to make progress developing a new form of contract for bus and ferry public transport services and it is understood that Cabinet will consider the Minister’s latest recommendations any day now.
It says NZ Bus is preparing for the new contracting regime by upgrading its fleet so that new buses will become available at about the same time that the new contracts start to be offered.
Scoop opinion piece : Missing the bus
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[...] about Wellington’s troubled public transport: Bus patronage hasn’t yet recovered from fare increases Tranz Metro admits it’s short of [...]
“Wellington and Hutt performance has continued to be uneven with the Regional Council’s fare increases of last October still having a significant impact” - by far the most significant increases were in monthly passes, imposed by Infratil’s very own NZ Bus.
” while difficulties with train services appear to be also generally discouraging use of public transport.” - Tranz Metro peak passenger numbers every month have shown on increase on the corresponding month the previous year.
What pathetic whingers Infratil are!
its better to buy a car, auckland public transport cant keep increasing thier fares,its ment to be cheap and efficient, it costs too much to catch a bus into town that its better to just drive in.we need to restore the tram network it worked great in the 1900s.