More bus and train services ahead of ‘March Madness’
Auckland Transport (AT) is putting on more bus and train services to meet passenger demand during March.
Brendon Main, Group Manager AT Metro Operations, says a number of factors mean passenger numbers spike at this time of the year.
"We know the number of public transport passengers peaks in March as students head back to their studies, schools are in term and lower numbers of people are on leave.
“It's known as ‘March Madness’ and since March last year we've worked hard to get more services on some of our busiest routes."
Extra capacity
In the morning peak there will be 56 more city-bound bus trips each morning compared to March last year. That's 5 per cent more capacity overall for bus services and an increase of up to 34 per cent on some corridors.
Bus capacity has increased by nearly 5400 spaces, and timetable changes for trains from 12 March will mean an additional 1200 spaces are available in the morning peak.
Double deckers for Birkenhead
Mr Main says double decker buses are also coming to Birkenhead to help with the demand.
From Monday 27 February, four double decker buses will commence services on routes between Beach Haven, Glenfield and the central city providing much-needed extra capacity along Onewa Road.
New routes for double decker services are 970, 973, 973B, 974 and 974B between Beach Haven and the CBD and the section of routes 950 and 955 between Glenfield Mall and the CBD.
AT will monitor the situation
Mr Main says public transport will be busy but Auckland Transport and its service providers will be closely watching the situation.
"You might not always get on the first service but we want to ensure wait times are acceptable and, on some routes, better than last year."