Metlink records busiest month ever for Wellington bus passengers

Thursday, 2 April 2026

March was the busiest month on record for Metlink bus passengers, with nearly 2.7 million trips taken across the Wellington region.

Across all modes — bus, rail and harbour ferries — Metlink recorded 3.6 million trips, making March the highest month for public transport use since 2019.

Greater Wellington Transport Committee chair Ros Connelly said it was encouraging to see more people choosing public transport.

“These figures show a rapid uptick in public transport use, above and beyond annual March madness. The fuel crisis is having a clear impact on the cost of living, and using public transport is a great way to save money and reduce fuel use,” Connelly said.

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“While March shows a near record volume of people travelling across our network, Metlink is still under considerable financial pressure to maintain current levels of service.”

Transport Committee deputy chair Tom James said Metlink was monitoring capacity closely.

“With more people travelling, especially on Tuesdays through Thursdays, we are seeing that some services are getting really full,” James said.

“We’re reviewing our capacity and are working with operators to ensure our buses and trains continue to meet demand as the fuel situation continues. If you have a flexible working arrangement, you may want to consider travelling outside of peak times to secure a seat and discount.”

Connelly said she expected strong patronage to continue well into April, helped by the rollout of new payment options.

“Very soon, choosing public transport will be even easier, with more ways to pay for your journey,” she said.

“The introduction of electronic payments from April 12 will make public transport easier to use and help people adjust to using new payment methods, before we transition to the National Ticketing Solution Motu Move in 2027.”