Public transport is high on Auckland’s agenda with new services starting Sunday leading up to the city’s biggest international event
August 19, 2011
A big change leading to a big event was announced in Auckland this morning, launching this Sunday’s start of three new Link bus services.
The new Link services expand Auckland’s public transport to outer parts of the city, with better connectivity through the city centre which will become an ‘epicentre’ of mass people movement during September-October’s Rugby World Cup.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown officially launched the new Link services this morning.
“Great public transport is central to my vision of making Auckland the world’s most liveable city,” Brown says.
“It’s all about giving people choice about how they move around Auckland.”
He says the expansion of the Link service will give people more choice in the way they get around the central city and the surrounding communities.
The existing Link service will be renamed Inner Link and have some of its route changed to make it more direct and reliable, including shifting off Auckland’s main Queen Street thoroughfare to Albert Street.
Two new services will also be introduced – City Link replaces the existing City Circuit, and Outer Link provides access to city fringe suburbs Mount Albert, Saint Lukes, Mount Eden, Epsom, Newmarket and Parnell, as well as the universities and Wellesley St in Auckland’s city centre.
New buses painted red, amber and green will operate on the three Link services.
The new buses will be air conditioned, wheel-chair accessible, buggy friendly and meet Euro 5 emissions standards.
The new City Link bus will be free until the end of 2011 as part of the service introduction period.
From January 1 the City Link will remain free for Auckland’s smartcard ‘HOP card’ users and cost 50 cents for other full-fare cash paying passengers with other concessions for school students, children and seniors.
The new Inner Link service replaces the existing Link service but with a more direct revised route.
The new Outer Link bus service will connect central suburbs including Herne Bay, Saint Lukes, Mt Eden and Newmarket.
Information about the new Link services can be found at www.maxx.co.nz.