Covid-19
What you need to know
From 11.59pm, Wednesday 13 April, the Wellington Region is at Orange.
Please continue to follow the guidance from the Government while travelling on public transport.
With Omicron in our community, we’re seeing an impact on public transport. We are doing everything that we can to keep our public transport functioning, and maintain a full service where possible – we continue to actively manage our available staff to run bus, train, and ferry services.
If any of our operators experience staffing issues that cause significant cancellations, then we may need to move to a reduced timetable at short notice. If we need to change the timetable at short notice, the RTI screens could be incorrect. Know before you go - updates and changes to services will be noted in service alerts and on the website.
Want to receive service alert push notifications?
You need to be logged into your MyMetlink account. Select your favourite services and stops in the app preferences. Ensure you have enabled notifications for the app on your device. For a step-by-step guide, visit the MyMetlink webpage.
We’ll continue to adapt as the situation changes, and we appreciate your understanding and kindness as we respond.
At Orange:
- Face masks must be worn while on board.
- All masks must be attached to the head by loops around the ears or head. That means no more scarves, bandannas, or jerseys pulled up over the face.
- All students age 12 or above will also need to wear a face mask on public transport and dedicated school services.
- Wear a face mask(external link)
- All accessibility features are in service, meaning front door boarding on buses and availability of ramps on trains.
- All payment methods are available, including cash, however contactless payment is preferred where available.
If you’re unwell, please avoid public transport and stay home.
A reminder, our drivers and frontline staff are working hard to deliver your service and are not expected to enforce these measures. Please be kind, and we appreciate your patience.
All trains running from 11 April
We’re pleased to share that from Monday 11 April, all previously planned train cancellations will be reinstated.
Know before you go - check the Metlink website or app for the impacted services, and ensure you have your notifications switched on to receive real time updates. Please be aware there may still be delays and cancellations.
Metlink would like to thank you for your continued support and understanding during this time.
Free travel to and from your vaccination appointment
We are providing free travel on buses and trains to anyone getting their COVID-19 vaccination from Monday 20 September 2021. This is part of a coordinated effort to boost attendance at vaccination centres and events across the region.
Terms and Conditions:
- ‘Free travel’ is provided to and from your vaccination appointment using Metlink buses and trains.
- You can only use this travel on the day of your appointment or vaccination visit
- Show your booking confirmation (either paper or on your mobile phone), otherwise let your bus driver or train manager know you are heading to or from your vaccination and take your seat
- Staff will only be checking that your appointment confirmation is dated for the day of travel
- Passengers must follow all government guidelines whilst using public transport
- Everyone 12 years and older legally must wear a face mask on public transport at all Levels. From 4 February, all students Year 4 and above are required to wear a face mask on public transport and dedicated school services.
- Drivers and transport operators will not stop people without face masks from boarding public transport. This is because some people will have legitimate reasons for not wearing a face mask
- Passengers of taxi and ride-share services legally must wear a face mask at Orange and Red and are encouraged at Green.
If using buses or trains is not an option for you, we are encouraging people to contact us directly on 0800 801 700 to arrange community transport to and from your vaccination centre.
For more information on vaccination sites visit the Healthpoint website(external link).
Haere kore utu ki tō hui, i tō hui rānei mō te rongoā āraimate
E hoatu kore utu ana mātou i ngā pahi me ngā tereina ki te hunga e haere ana ki te whiwhi i tō rātou rongoā āraimate KOWHEORI-19, mai i te Mane 20 o Mahuru 2021. He mea whakakotahi i ngā kaha ki te whakanui i te taenga atu, i te toronga atu rānei o te hunga whai rongoā āraimate huri i te rohe.
Ko ngā Herenga me ngā Āheinga:
- Ko te “haere kore utu” mō te haerenga atu, hokinga atu rānei i tō weronga rongoā āraimate i runga i ngā pahi me ngā tereina o Metlink.
- E taea ana e koe ēnei waka te haere i tō rangi hui, i tō toronga atu rānei
- Me whakaatu (te pepa, tō kawe reo rānei), i tō whakatūturutanga o tō hui, me whakamārama atu rānei ki te hautū pahi, tereina rānei e haere atu ana, e hoki atu ana koe rānei i tō weronga, ā, kimihia he nohoanga mōu.
- Ka tirohia anake e ngā kaimahi e rite ana tō rangi hui me te rangi e haere atu ana
- Me whai tonu ngā kaieke i ngā aratohu katoa o te Kāwanatanga i a koe i runga i ngā waka tūmatanui.
Download translations of our Free Travel to Vaccinations poster
Cook Islands Māori (Kūki 'Āirani Māori) [PDF, 180 KB]
Fijian (Vosa Vakaviti) [PDF, 185 KB]
Kiribati (Te taetae ni Kiribati) [PDF, 182 KB]
Niue (Vagaha Niue) [PDF, 179 KB]
Rotuman (Fäeag Rotųam) [PDF, 181 KB]
Samoa (Gagana Samoa) [PDF, 181 KB]
Tokelau (Te Gagana Tokelau) [PDF, 185 KB]
Tonga (Lea Faka-Tonga) [PDF, 188 KB]
General Information
- Wash or sanitise your hands before and as soon as possible after travelling
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow, or use a tissue to cover your mouth
- Avoid touching your eyes and face, without clean hands
- Put used tissues in the bin or a bag straight after using them
Remember, be kind and follow these simple steps to keep you, your whānau and your community safe while using Metlink services:
- If you are unwell, do not travel on public transport
- Metlink staff are not expected to enforce the wearing of face masks
- Metlink continues to carry out enhanced cleaning measures during this time
Thank you to all passengers and staff for your incredible patience and understanding during this time. We continue to rely on you to be responsible, be kind to one another and make the right choices by following the Government’s advice. Your safety, and our team’s safety, is paramount. We are all in this together.
Travelling with Metlink?
With the virus confirmed in New Zealand, we cannot afford any gaps in our defence. Face masks help protect us all from the spread of COVID-19. The Government has strengthened its requirements and has made it mandatory to wear face masks while on board public transport services at Orange and Red.
Face masks must be worn while on board:
- All masks must be attached to the head by loops around the ears or head. That means no more scarves, bandannas, or jerseys pulled up over the face.
- All students Year 4 and above will also need to wear a face mask on public transport and dedicated school services
Wear a face mask(external link)
The health and safety of our frontline staff and our passengers is our most important priority, and it is important that we are all doing our bit to keep us all safe.
Not sure how to use them, or how you could make one yourself? Find out more by visiting the Government's website.(external link)
During this time Total Mobility transport continues to operate. It is important to note that there will be no change to fares, which means Total Mobility will continue to cover 50% of the fare up to the maximum subsidy amount of $80, customers pay the remainder. Remember to present your Total Mobility card to Metlink staff member at the start of every trip. Total Mobility cardholders can continue to use their card to get the Accessible Concession on buses, trains and the harbour ferry.
Here’s what you need to know when travelling on Metlink dedicated school services:
- At Orange and Red, face masks are mandatory on Metlink dedicated school buses for children aged 12 and over. All students Year 4 and above are required to wear a face mask on dedicated school services.
- All seats can be occupied and standing is allowed
For students using Metlink public bus services:
- At Orange and Red, the wearing of a face mask remains mandatory on all public transport for anyone aged 12 and over. All students Year 4 and above are required to wear a face mask on public transport services. There are exemptions for health, disability and practicality reasons.
- All seats can be occupied and standing is allowed
If you’re one of our bus customers:
- At Orange and Red, the wearing of a face mask remains mandatory on all public transport for anyone aged 12 and over.
- Standing is allowed on board
- Fares remain in place, with all payment methods including cash
- If using cash, please try and have the exact change if possible
- Passengers are encouraged to use Snapper cards(external link)
- All accessibility features are available, this means front door boarding on buses
- For more information on Snapper please visit the Snapper website(external link) or call 0800 555 345
- All ticketing, pricing and route information(external link)
- Timetable information(external link)
If you’re one of our train customers:
- At Orange and Red, the wearing of a face mask remains mandatory on all public transport for anyone aged 12 and over. All students Year 4 and above are required to wear a face mask on public transport.
- Standing is allowed on board
- Fares remain in place, with all payment methods including cash
- If using cash, please try and have the exact change if possible or use a contactless (EFTPOS or Credit Card) method if you can
- All accessibility features return to services available, this means availability of ramps on trains
- Ticket offices at stations will be open
- Please stay clear of the door areas where staff are located unless boarding or exiting our services
- All ticketing, pricing and route information(external link)
- Timetable information(external link)
If you’re one of our harbour ferry customers:
- At Orange and Red, the wearing of a face mask remains mandatory on all public transport for anyone aged 12 and over. All students Year 4 and above are required to wear a face mask on public transport.
- The ferry will be running a full timetable
- Standing is allowed on board
- Fares remain in place, with all payment methods including cash
- If using cash, please try and have the exact change if possible or use a contactless (EFTPOS or Credit Card) method if you can
- Tickets are available on board the ferry as well as from the East by West Office
- All ticketing, pricing and route information(external link)
- Timetable information(external link)
Last published: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 2:03 PM