A Record Year for Metlink Buses

The Metropolitan Transport Authority, Metlink, has just unveiled its bus statistics for 2024, showcasing it as the most successful year on record. With a whopping 26,597,739 trips taken, this marks a 3.7% increase from 2019, which was the previous peak before the global health crisis hit.

Picture source: Metlink

Choosing buses over cars has clearly paid off, reducing traffic congestion and keeping Wellington’s economy on the move. Each of these trips meant fewer cars on the road, promoting a smoother flow of traffic and preventing the city from grinding to a halt.

World-Class Reliability

The reliability of Metlink buses in 2024 was nothing short of impressive. With an average reliability rate of 99.4%, passengers could count on their buses month after month. October shone brightest with a 99.7% reliability rate, setting a new standard for punctuality.

Thomas Nash, who’s been the Transport Chair for two years, praised the dedication of the drivers and staff, saying, “Rebuilding a reliable bus service was my top priority, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has delivered this world-class standard.”

May was particularly bustling, with 2,582,185 trips, making it the year’s busiest month.

The Backbone of Public Transport

The bus network continues to be the linchpin of Wellington’s public transport system, handling the lion’s share of passengers. But it’s not all about buses; the rail network also plays its part, especially for longer journeys. In 2024, trains saw 10,853,248 passengers, covering millions of passenger kilometres. 

Together, these services facilitated over 37 million journeys, significantly cutting down on car use, which in turn benefits the environment and the economy. This highlights the importance of a well-balanced transport strategy.

The Road Ahead

This year’s achievements set a high bar for Metlink’s future services. However, as Thomas Nash pointed out, “Now we need to keep up this level of service and expand, so that people have the greatest number of transport choices when they need them.”

Picture source: Metlink

The plan is to keep pushing forward, enhancing bus and rail services and integrating them more effectively with the harbour ferry network. This will provide Wellingtonians with more convenient and accessible travel options.

The 2024 Metlink bus data not only shows what can be achieved with the right investment and focus but also positions Wellington’s public transport system to meet future demands while fostering sustainable, efficient urban life.