Wellington public transport

Public transport in Greater Wellington is via bus, train and ferry. Since 2006, these transport media appear in greater Auckland under a common name, Metlink. Admittedly, the ferries are still run by companies other than the trains and buses, there are even different operators, but now the entire public transport in Wellington is unified under one umbrella. Wellington has the highest proportion of users of public transportation. Every day about 26,000 people travel to downtown Wellington on buses or trains, and on average 28% of all movements are carried out by public transport, compared with Auckland (18%) and Christchurch (9%).

Bus

Bus transport is in Wellington, the main public transport means. The extensive bus network covers nearly all the suburbs of the metropolitan area. The largest operator, Stagecoach, offers some specific compounds:

Thus, the Flyer offers a fast link from the airport through the city center as far as Upper Hutt and Wellington. The Stadium Shuttle brings sports enthusiasts to all parts of the CBD into WestpacTrust Stadium near the station. Both lines were able to establish themselves as the transport needs can be satisfied in these regions only in a limited way by the suburban railway.

The closure of the extensive tram network in 1964 saw the introduction of trolley buses. In 2006 there were about 60 units still in operation. It was decided to maintain the overhead line network and to use in the future, newer buses.

Rail

All metro lines have their origin at the Wellington Railway Station, which is located slightly north of the city center. The system was more efficient and is more frequented than in Auckland and even more than in many American cities. With the closure of the tram rail, the metropolitan area received another shock.

A “survivor” of the closing wave of historic rail routes, the Wellington Cable Car, is now almost solely responsible for tourism and now even functions as a symbol of the city on the Cook Strait. On the good 600 meters of track there are four stations, beginning on Lambton Quay and Wellington Botanic Gardens are the last stop.

As part of the modernization of the entire waterfront in the early 1990s there were plans for a “museum tram” along the shore, like in Christchurch. After the election of a new city administration, these plans went back in the sand. Another project necessary to improve the accessibility of the southern districts and in particular the airport is to build a light rail line from the main train station.

Ferry

Despite its extremely convenient location the Wellington Harbor ferry is not as significant as might be supposed. Nevertheless, operating on the natural harbour are three passenger ferries: the first between Wellington and Picton on South Island; the second between Wellington and Eastbourne in the east and the other between Wellington and Petone, in the north.