Twenty Wellington bus services suspended for up to six months because of driver shortage

Friday, 22 February 2019

Twenty morning rush-hour bus services across Wellington will be cancelled for up to six months as Metlink scales back timetables in response to a driver shortage.

The region's public transport operator signalled earlier this week it would need to suspend some buses as it dealt with a crippling driver shortage at NZ Bus.

It confirmed on Friday nine routes would have fewer services between 7am and 9am, affecting about 200 passengers, while six services on two other routes would be replaced by shuttle vans, and four school services would be run by other companies.

The changes come into effect on Monday.

**READ MORE:

* Trains scrapped, buses cancelled

* Bus services could be suspended

* Wellington's 'chronic' driver shortage**

Greater Wellington Regional Council chief executive Greg Campbell said the cutbacks would at least provide commuters with some certainty about whether their buses would arrive.

'The past few weeks have been an uncertain time, with customers - particularly in the eastern suburbs - not being sure if their trip will happen or not.

'This was not acceptable so we have worked with NZ Bus to identify routes across the city that could be temporarily suspended or replaced with the least amount of impact on customers.'

​The reduced timetables would also mean buses would be fuller and more people would need to stand, Campbell said.

'We know that this will impact on the level of comfort for customers but this inconvenience to around 200 passengers will bring increased certainty to thousands of customers across the 1300 trips operated by NZ Bus each day.'

NZ Bus chief executive Zane Fulljames told councillors on Wednesday the company was about 20 drivers short, and it was now looking to recruit drivers from overseas to help address the problem.

'We are going to be cancelling services on a daily basis, and it's down to a shortage of drivers.' 

New timetables and suggested alternate routes would be posted on the Metlink website and phone app.

The council was working with NZ Bus to increase its driver numbers, but expected the cancellations to be in place for about six months.

Details of the changes can be found here. 

Routes with fewer buses 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 28, 34 and 37.

Routes with some van replacements 12, 28

School services with new operator 711, 715, 768, 888​