KEVIN STENT/Things
Wellington’s new Airport Express carried 3,000 passengers in its first four days, compared to 1,000 a month on the old service. Pictured: Transport Minister Michael Wood with one of the new buses. (File photo)
In the first six days of Wellington’s operation, Wellington’s new Airport Express bus carried 4,552 passengers – four times more passengers than the previous service carried in a month.
The service had carried 3,000 passengers in its first four days, compared to 1,000 a month on the old Airport Flyer, Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said during his election announcement on Newstalk ZB on Thursday morning.
Metlink’s network and customer manager David Boyd said he was “happy with the number of people”.
“The strong start clearly shows that the latent demand for this Metlink service is high. We know that demand will continue to grow as people and organizations plan their work and leisure trips with the Airport Express in mind.”
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Metlink’s Airport Express fleet consists of: 10 new purpose-built all-electric buseswhich runs approximately every 10 to 20 minutes, from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week between Wellington train station and the airport.
Before that, the capital had not had a dedicated airport service for two years.
Ross Giblin / Stuff
Travelers from the airport take a public bus in Miramar after the Airport Flyer bus service is shut down. (File photo)
Boyd expected another surge in patronage over the school holidays and next week’s All Blacks v Ireland test match at Sky Stadium.
“We are doing our best to spread the word throughout the region and to passengers arriving at the airport that an affordable, all-electric, high-frequency bus service is now connecting travelers to the central city and wider region via Metlink’s bus and rail networks. , seven days a week,” he says.
Regional Councilor Roger Blakeley called the service a “huge success”.
He tweeted: “3000 passengers in the first 4 days, 80% via mode shift, all buses are on time, good adoption of new technology.”
Fellow councilor Thomas Nash clarified the mode shift data: “The 80% mode shift figure is based on the corresponding drop in patronage on bus number 2 near the airport, which was 20%, so the other 80% must be mode shift because literally the only other way to get to the airport is by car.”