About Us » Metlink

Metlink

Proudly part of Greater Wellington

(external link)Greater Wellington Regional Council(external link) (GWRC), under the brand name Metlink, brings a public bus, rail and ferry transport network to the wider Wellington region, including Wellington City, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Kāpiti Coast and the Wairarapa.

We work with our transport operators to deliver a connected, integrated network with patronage across all modes growing at a rapid rate.

We continuously refine and improve our network based on customer research and feedback. Our goal is to deliver an effective, efficient, and integrated public transport network for the people of Wellington.

GWRC website(external link)

The Council works in partnership with the New Zealand Transport Agency to plan and fund the region’s public transport network. We work closely with the following local government agencies to deliver public transport services and infrastructure in their areas:

Metlink is the Wellington region’s public transport network of bus, train and harbour ferry service. The Metlink network has 5 rail lines, nearly 100 public bus routes, more than 180 school bus services, and 4 harbour ferry wharves.

More about rail and bus operator contracts

Metlink operates nearly 150 dedicated school bus routes serving 83 schools in the Wellington region, in addition to public bus routes serving the rest of the region.

Schools Guide

Bus operators

NZ Bus(external link)

Tranzurban(external link)

Mana Coach Services(external link)

Uzabus(external link)

List of bus routes by operator(external link)

Metlink buses

The Metlink fleet of over 450 lime and yellow buses carry passengers around the region. Buses of many different sizes, including double deckers and electric buses, run over 3700 services carrying nearly 100,000 passengers on the average weekday. In fact, 24.8 Million people used our buses during 2018/19. In addition, we operate nearly 150 dedicated school bus routes serving 83 schools.

Bus network

The bus network underwent huge changes in July 2018, with many routes changing to better serve the changing needs of a growing metropolitan city. Refinements to routes and updates to timetables are continually improving, as we work hard to create the best network for our customers.

More information about bus contracts and a list of bus routes by operator can be found on the Regional Council website.

GWRC Bus contracts information(external link)

Bus stops and shelters

Bus stops and shelters are mostly owned and maintained by local city councils, but some are owned by Metlink. All bus stops will be clearly marked with a bus stop number and a timetable for the routes that serve that stop. Bus interchanges (formerly known as hubs) are located at key points in the network where transferring between services is easiest. You can expect the bus interchanges to be sheltered, well-lit spaces, making transferring between buses safer and more comfortable.

Accessible journeys

All Metlink buses are wheelchair accessible and have dedicated priority seating areas for our

Train operator

Transdev Wellington(external link)

Rail Customer Commitments [PDF, 90 KB]

Wellington Rail Network

Wellingtonians and visitors take more than 14 million passenger journeys a year on the Wellington Metro Rail Network. Rail transport provides many benefits to the region from connecting people and businesses, taking cars and trucks off the roads and reducing carbon emissions.

When buses replace trains

With most of the rail lines being used 19-20 hours a day, 365 days a year, from time to time works can cause bus replacements for passenger services. We have a regular maintenance and renewal programme which aims to improve the reliability and resilience of the Wellington commuter network. Work on the line which requires buses to replace trains are planned in advance, with the aim of keeping disruption to commuters to a minimum.

Buses replacing trains

Ferry operator

East by West Ferries(external link)

History

East by West Ltd has run the ferry service for Wellington City since it was established in March 1989 between Days Bay and Queens Wharf. Previously called the WestpacTrust ferry before being replaced by the “City Cat” catamaran in 1990. In 1995 Matiu Somes Island was opened to the public as a DoC reserve and was then added to the ferries route. The Wellington Harbour Ferry became part of the Metlink family on 1 May 2003.

A new service in 2004 was proposed from Queens Wharf to Petone by East by West and the Passenger Transport Committee agreed to a trial. The new “Cobar Cat” ferry was purchased and the trial began in December 2005. Unfortunately, the Petone service was cancelled in June 2006 and the Cobar Cat was used to provide further trips during peak between Days bay and Queens Wharf where it later expanded to Petone and Seatoun on commercial runs. There are no longer services to Petone due to earthquake damage impacting the pier.

National Ticketing System

Metlink is working with Waka Kotahi to introduce and implement the National Ticketing Solution(external link) which will improve public transport for Wellingtonians and all New Zealanders through a centralised, standardised approach to paying for public transport, and a common customer experience no matter where you are in the country.

The National Ticketing Solution supports Metlink’s and the government’s goals toward safer and less congested roads, reducing emissions, as well as supporting healthier lifestyles. It will also help to improve access to travel options by providing people with more choice.

In preparation for this, Metlink is implementing contactless payment with Snapper card payments on rail services.

The Pōneke Promise

Together we can keep Wellington city safe.

Greater Wellington Regional Council is working with some great partners to help everyone feel safer in Wellington City.

We’ve banded together with a new social contract, the Pōneke Promise. We’re promising a set of actions that we’ll be accountable for. We'll continue to make more promises to keep our city safe.

We’re making collective change to keep Pōneke a vibrant and compassionate place to live.

It’s our Pōneke Promise(external link).

Pōneke Promise website(external link)

By sharing information and working together to develop and deliver solutions, we’re working towards the common goal of making Pōneke a safe, vibrant and welcoming city for everyone.

Our partners include:

Cleaning and maintenance of bus shelters

Review is complete and changes are underway to frequency and timing for bus shelter cleaning and maintenance in Wellington City.

Public transport night services review

A review is underway to determine how many people are using the Metlink after midnight services, and what people think about the timetables and fares.

Security liaison staff

Employing extra security liaison staff to work alongside door people at the City’s bars and nightclubs. (In progress)

Let's Get Wellington Moving

Working with the people of Wellington to improve our transport and create a more liveable city.

To develop a transport system for the future, Let's Get Wellington Moving brings together local government, transport expertise and mana whenua perspectives.

Let's Get Wellington Moving website(external link)

Let’s Get Wellington Moving is a joint initiative between:

These organisations are supported by our mana whenua partners Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira.

Future Rail

Building a better rail network for the Wellington region

KiwiRail and Metlink are working together to upgrade the rail network to makes services more reliable and enable more people to travel on trains in the future, with funding provided by the New Zealand Government.

Future Rail, also known as the Wellington Metro Upgrade(external link), is a collection of projects which will deliver a service with fewer speed restrictions and outages, longer trains and more services for Metlink commuters.

KiwiRail website(external link)

Future Rail projects can be divided into two main areas:

1. Renewing existing infrastructure so services run as smoothly as possible:

Replacing and modernising the overhead power system and signals power supply
Renewing the track, across the network including inside the four major tunnels

2. Adding capacity so more people can travel on trains in the future while still allowing for freight services:

Double tracking between Trentham and Upper Hutt
Improvements to Wellington Railway Station approaches and changes at Plimmerton