Metlink News

2010
the year of
the Matangi
All systems are go on the production line
in South Korea for our new Matangi trains.
Matangi is the Maori word for breeze or wind. The new
trains are expected to begin arriving in Wellington in the
third quarter of the year. They will need to be tested
thoroughly before beginning service, and the testing
of the first units will take a few months. The trains will
be introduced progressively on the various lines in the
network, starting with the Hutt Valley line. This line was
chosen because it required the least amount of work
on power and signalling upgrades.
The Matangi trains will be a new and exciting iconic
feature of the Wellington region. We intend to celebrate
their arrival in style and you are invited, of course.
Details about the celebrations will be available in the
next Metlink News, in June, and on the Metlink website,
www.metlink.org.nz closer to the time.
You can get regular updates about the new trains
at www.gw.govt.nz/matangi-news
The new Matangi train taking shape in the Korean factory.
q
Porirua bus changes
on the way
Did you know?
Thank you to all the Tawa
and Porirua residents and bus
users who gave us feedback
recently on proposed new
timetables for Porirua bus
services. Your comments have
been very helpful as we now
work to finalise the changes.
The changes include a brand
new bus service for Aotea,
more weekend and later
evening services, and a
single route between Titahi
Bay and Porirua East. All buses
will run through the city
centre.
A small team in Greater Wellington’s Metlink
department regularly monitors bus, train and harbour
ferry services to check that requirements of the
operating contracts are being met. The contracts
set standards for services, including things such
as reliability and the condition of vehicles.
Metlink’s quality assurance officers carry out planned
monitoring of bus, train and ferry services; they could
be at a bus stop in Queen Street, Masterton one day
and at Pukerua Bay station the next. The inspections
are planned in order to achieve statistical soundness,
as the officers want to get a genuine picture of how
services are operating. Any issues they discover, such
as a service that does not run, are taken up with the
relevant operator.
If you have a concern or would like to pass on a
compliment about bus, train or harbour ferry services
you can contact Metlink on 0800 801 700, or email
info@metlink.org.nz
txtBUS and txtTRAIN
You can get Metlink bus and train timetable
information via text – it’s easy, fast and convenient.
To get bus timetable information, simply text your
bus stop number to BUS (287), and you will receive
the scheduled times for the next three buses.
Four digit bus stop numbers are shown on all bus
stop signs.
To find out the next three services for a specific route
at your bus stop, text the bus stop number then route
number, e.g. 4915, 18 or 4915 18 to BUS (287).
For train timetable information, text the first four
letters of the station you want to leave from, a space
and the first four letter of station you want to go
to, to TRN (876). For example, if you were travelling
from Porirua to Melling, you would text “PORI MELL”
and you’ll receive a reply in seconds, giving you the
scheduled departure times of the next two trains.
You can also find out future departure times, up
to 23 hours ahead. For more information, see the
Metlink website, www.metlink.org.nz
txtBUS and txtTRAIN costs 20c.
Keeping
on track
You can also view copies of
Metlink News on the website.
For Metlink timetables and further
information about public transport
services in the greater Wellington
region, visit the Metlink website or
contact Metlink.
04 801 7000
0800 801 700
txt: BUS (287)
txt: TRN (876)
info@metlink.org.nz
www.metlink.org.nz
This service is brought to you by:
GW/MET-G-10/12
Metlink News
Issue 12, March 2010
Welcome to the first issue of Metlink News for
2010 – the year our new Matangi trains begin
arriving! Get the latest on the new trains, the real
time information pilot and lots more happening
with Metlink – Greater Wellington’s public
transport network.
IN THIS ISSUE
The year of
the Matangi
SuperGold
Porirua bus changes
on the way
Metlink City Safari
Use our website
– and be in to win
Real time preparation
continues
Your guide to Metlink
Disability survey
Easter holiday timetables
& train replacements
txtBUS & txtTRAIN
Better bus services
for Wainuiomata
Wellington street
events

Better bus services
for Wainuiomata
A new trial bus service between Wainuiomata and
Hutt Hospital, more frequent peak-time buses and
more connections with express trains are some of
the changes that have just been introduced for
Wainuiomata bus users.
The new timetables aim to better meet demand.
New arrival and departure times take account of
changes to traffic flows since the timetable was
last reviewed.
A new trial service, with two morning and three
afternoon trips, between Wainuiomata and Hutt
Hospital, will test the demand for a commuter service.
School bus routes now travel along the same routes
as other bus services. All school bus services will use
the same route as other buses in Wainuiomata and
then travel to Hutt Valley High School, Sacred Heart
College and then St Bernard’s College.
New Wainuiomata timetables are available from your
local Metlink stockist and on the Metlink website.
Use our website –
and be in to win
Over the next few weeks, if you visit the
Metlink website, www.metlink.org.nz
and complete a simple task, you could
be a winner.
You’ll also see how easy it is to get timetable and service
information for your bus, train or harbour ferry, and plan
your public transport journey. You’ll find the latest
information about public transport arrangements for
special events, updates on the rail network, and any
disruptions to services. Everything you need to know
about Metlink buses, trains and ferries – at your keyboard.
Your guide to Metlink
If you’ve heard of kneeling buses but don’t really
know what they are, or you’d like to know more about
how to take a pram or buggy on a bus or train, then
you need a copy of our brand new brochure, Your
guide to Metlink. The brochure has lots of useful
information about how to access Metlink bus, train
and harbour ferry services. The more you know, the
easier it is to use public transport and get the most
benefit from the Metlink network. The brochure will
be available soon from Metlink stockists, or you can
download it once it’s available, at www.metlink.org.nz
SuperGold – super travel
for seniors
If you’re 65 years of age or over and have a SuperGold
card, or you are a war veteran, you can get out more
– but pay less. You can travel on public transport,
at off peak times, anywhere in the region, for free.
SuperGold gives you free travel on Metlink buses,
trains and harbour ferries, between 9am and 3pm and
after 6.30pm on weekdays, and anytime on weekends
and public holidays. All you have to do
is show your SuperGold card to the ticket collector
or bus driver, and you’re on your way.
SuperGold can be used for free travel only within
the region. You cannot use it on trains, buses or ferries
that travel out of the region, e.g. to Palmerston North,
Hawkes Bay, Auckland or Picton.
Free off-peak travel with your SuperGold card is being
reviewed in 2010. Look out for any possible changes.
For more information about SuperGold cards you can
call 0800 25 45 65 or visit www.supergold.govt.nz
Disability survey
We’re always keen to find ways of improving Metlink
services. At present, we’re surveying people with
disabilities to get their feedback on our information
line. If you have a disability and use the Metlink
information line, please take a moment to complete
the survey. It’s at www.gw.govt.nz/drgsurvey
Easter holiday timetables
and train replacements
Buses, trains and the harbour ferry will run to
special timetables over the Easter weekend of
Friday 2 April to Monday 5 April. Services on Easter
Friday and Monday will run to a Sunday timetable.
After midnight services will not run on Saturday
morning. See the Metlink website for details or
phone the Metlink information line 0800 801 700.
Buses will replace trains between Wellington and
Johnsonville, Porirua and Waterloo from 4am – 2pm
on Friday 2 April, then from midnight on Friday
through to midnight on Monday 5 April. Trains will
be running for the Hurricanes game at Westpac
Stadium on Friday afternoon and evening. Buses are
replacing trains so work can continue on the creation
of a third line into Wellington Station. This will
relieve peak hour train congestion and reduce queues
in and out of Wellington.
Get around without
your car!
Getting around the Wellington region without a car
is easy – as long as you know how. A new brochure,
produced by Greater Wellington and available soon,
shows you exactly how you can get around by public
transport, walking and cycling. The Get Around
brochure includes a map so you can see the major
bus, train and harbour ferry connections, if you’re
planning a big journey. There’s information about
bike carriage on trains and walkways and cycleways
you can use to avoid busy roads. So next time you’re
planning a trip somewhere in the region, why not
leave the car at home and get around on public
transport, your feet or your bike? No petrol costs, and
no pollution! The brochure will be available in April
at www.gw.govt.nz/getaround, so look out for it.
Metlink City Safari
What do marathon runners,
meanderers, rs, maps, and Metlink buses,
trains and ferries ries
have in common?
They
all come together for the Metlink City Safari,
happening on Sunday 16
May. The safari – an
orienteeringng
event with a public transport twist
- is for
all ages and all fitness levels. ls. If you’re after
a serious challenge, leng
e, then the all day course would
be best for you. But if you’re more interested in fun,
fresh air and maybe a ferry ride, then the
half-day
safari is perfect. ect.
More details about this year’s Safari
are at www.citysafari.org.nz
ari.
i.or
Wellington street events
As part of our on-going management nt of the Metlink
public transport network, we work closely with city
and district councils and bus operators to manage ag
the
network during special events. The past few months
have been particularly busy. Careful planning and
co-operation by all parties has seen disruption kept to
a minimum. To give you an idea of the type of events,
we help with we thought we’d list those that
happened in February and March for you:
Wellington Sevens party
Chinese New Years Parade
Petone Fair
Round the Bays
Women’s Cycle Wellington
Newtown Fair
Triathlon Championship
Kilbirnie Festival
Hospice Bike Ride
6 Feb
14 Feb
20 Feb
21 Feb
28 Feb
7 Mar
13 Mar
14 Mar
14 Mar
If you’re going to an event in the region, check the
Metlink website for service updates to see if any
changes to timetables or bus diversions will be in place.