Your Go-to Guide... For getting around on the new Metlink network

Your Go-to Guide... For getting around on the new Metlink network

Metlink is all about connecting you with life! In the coming months, we ll be improving our public transport network, helping commuters, students, visitors, day-trippers, in fact everyone, to connect to what s great in our region! We re a social lot. We like to get together with friends, whether it s over an internationally envied coffee, a walk on the beach, or a race to a single track in one of our amazing mountain bike parks. A key part of creating connections is having an amazing public transport system. Right now we make 38 million journeys a year on Metlink buses, trains and ferries, but we estimate that in just six years the number will rise to around 42 million. As one of the biggest users of public transport in Australasia, we need a public network that can carry more people to more places, every day of the week. YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 3

We re rolling out changes to the bus network in three stages We re doing a phased rollout across the region. Key go-live dates: 30 April - Wairarapa 17 June - Hutt Valley 15 July - Wellington City & Whole Region 4 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

In a nutshell To carry more people more often, we re making some important changes, such as rejigging timetables across the region so connecting between Metlink buses, trains and ferries works better for more of us. Wellington city will have a new network, with changes to bus routes, stops and frequency of services so we can carry more people, more often. We re also working closely with schools to make sure our kids can get from A to B and back again. Snapper We re making things easier by using one electronic payment method for any Metlink bus throughout the region. By 15 July this year, everyone across Greater Wellington will be using Snapper, which is a convenient way to pay your bus fare as well as being much cheaper than cash. You ll pay at least 25% more using cash than with a Snapper card. A new generation of planet-friendly buses We re bringing in lots of shiny new buses across the network even 100% electric double-deckers for Wellington city and are aspiring to have a 100% electric fleet. These bring with them lower-emissions which means by July 2018, harmful emissions across the region s public transport will be around 68% lower than they were in July 2017! Simpler fares We re making our fares simpler and fairer to help ensure that public transport is accessible to all of us. Please bear with us For some of us, some changes may take a bit of getting used to. We will be doing our best every day to make things better but we ask you to please bear with us. We promise to give you as much information and help that you need along the way. YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 5

Snapper for all Metlink buses A convenient way to pay for travel across the region Snapper is an electronic payment card for your bus travel. Wellington city, Hutt Valley and Eastbourne bus customers already use Snapper. We will soon start rolling out Snapper to Metlink buses in the rest of the region. Snapper is a smart way to pay because: It s convenient no need to fumble around for cash in your pocket or wallet. There are many ways to top up your Snapper card and you can register your card to protect your Snapper balance if your card is lost or stolen. You ll pay at least 25% more using cash than with a Snapper card. Faster than cash no need to tell the bus driver your destination, or to wait for the ticket or change. Just tag on and off. To read more about using Snapper, please visit snapper.co.nz When will buses in my area start using Snapper? Wairarapa bus routes from Monday 30 April 2018 North Wellington bus routes from Sunday 15 July 2018 Porirua bus routes from Sunday 15 July 2018 Kapiti bus routes from Sunday 15 July 2018 You can transfer between Metlink buses at no extra cost with your Snapper card As Snapper is rolled out across the whole region there will be no extra cost to transfer between buses (within 30 minutes of tagging off) when you use Snapper to pay (not cash). 6 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

Replacing all other electronic payment cards Snapper cards will be the only payment card accepted on Metlink buses in the Greater Wellington region replacing Tranzit a2b, Uzabus and Mana/Newlands smartcards. If you want to, you will still be able to pay your bus fare with cash. How to swap to Snapper If you have a Tranzit a2b, Uzabus or Mana/Newlands smartcard, we ll replace your existing card with a Snapper card for free. Unfortunately, we are not able to transfer any remaining balance from Tranzit a2b, Uzabus or Mana/Newlands smartcards onto Snapper cards. Refunds for any remaining card balances will be available from the bus operators, but you may want to run down the credit on your current card before you swap over to Snapper. Topping up your Snapper card before you hop on a Metlink bus You can top up your Snapper card balance at a Snapper retailer or kiosk, via the Snapper Android App or online using a Snapper feeder. To make it easy to top up, Snapper has been signing up more retail locations across the region. Information on where the new Snapper retailers will be in your area is coming closer to the time of its rollout. For more information on topping up and using Snapper go to snapper.co.nz On our way to integrated ticketing Snapper is an interim solution to make bus travel easier. We are continuing to work on delivering a fully integrated next generation payment system that you ll be able to use on all buses, trains and harbour ferries across the region. This project is still a couple of years away and we will keep you up to date with our progress. YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 7

Simpler and fairer fares We re making our fares simpler, plus more affordable fares are coming for students, people with disabilities, and adults travelling during the off-peak periods. We haven t increased fares for over five years, but we ll need to apply a 3% fare increase to all Metlink fares from mid-july 2018. This will really help us to offset the cost of other fare changes, including new discounts, and to ensure all of us that use public transport contribute to the share of the cost. General 3% fare increase 50% discount for all school students 25% discount for eligible full-time tertiary students 50% discount for eligible people with disabilities, with free travel for an accompanying carer 25% off-peak discount Continued free travel for SuperGold Card holders Continued free travel for children under five years Transfers between Metlink buses at no extra cost when using Snapper New Metlink Explorer day pass replacing all other day passes Free bus connections to trains when using some Metlink rail monthly passes 8 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

A new generation of planet-friendly buses We re always conscious about the environmental health of our region. We re bringing in lots of shiny new buses across the network even 100% electric double-deckers for Wellington city and are aspiring to have a 100% electric fleet. These bring with them lower-emissions which means by July 2018, harmful emissions across the region s public transport will be around 68% lower than they were in July 2017! Metlink is embracing lime and yellow! It will be easy to spot Metlink services wherever you are in the region. In March you ll start to see the Metlink lime and yellow on our new low-emission buses - distinctive, colourful and vibrant just like our region. We won t be getting all the new buses at once so please bear with us and our assorted buses for the next wee while. If you re catching a bus, please check the number and destination rather than the colour of the bus. YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 9

Who drives the buses? We couldn t keep our region moving without working closely with our bus operator partners. We undertook an extensive tender process and are working with experienced partners to help us make Greater Wellington region s public transport a whole lot more connected. The same four bus operators will continue to serve our region as they do now, but the areas they serve will change a bit. Behind the scenes, NZ Bus, Mana/Newlands, Tranzit and Uzabus will continue to work with us to deliver a more integrated service, but from mid-2018 everyone out-front will be Metlink. By early 2019, all Metlink buses will be in the same colours and all of our partner drivers will wear new Metlink uniforms. Find out more about how we work with our bus operator partners by visiting metlink.org.nz/onourway 10 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

What does it mean if you live, work in or want to visit the Wairarapa? From Monday 30 April: Metlink buses in the Wairarapa will only accept Snapper payment cards, cash and Tranzit school passes. Rail monthly passes will still be accepted. If you currently use a Tranzit a2b card, we ll replace your existing card with a Snapper card for free. Please don t worry, we ll have more information on how to swap to Snapper in late March 2018. Minor changes to some bus services will be communicated closer to the time. The look of your bus will change Metlink is embracing lime and yellow! Drivers will be wearing new Metlink uniforms. From Sunday 15 July: Simpler fares so it s easy to know what to pay, plus more affordable fares are coming for eligible students, people with disabilities, and adults travelling during the off-peak periods. Detailed information on what the fare changes mean for you will be coming in late March. Minor adjustments to bus and rail timetables to improve your connections between buses and trains. A new Sunday bus service between Martinborough, Featherston and Masterton to help you get around more easily. Real Time Information on when a Metlink bus or train service is arriving at your stop will be extended to the Wairarapa giving you more certainty about your trip. YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 11

What does it mean if you live, work in or want to visit the Hutt Valley? We know that you ve been using Snapper since 2008 with the ability to transfer at no extra cost at certain locations in the Hutt Valley. From Sunday 17 June, you ll be able to transfer at no extra cost between Metlink buses (within 30 minutes of tagging off) anywhere in the Hutt Valley and Eastbourne where there is a connecting service. You ll still have to use Snapper to pay (not cash) to be able to do so. A new Saturday service for Belmont and a new weekday route for Riverstone Terraces to help you get around more easily. Metlink bus timetables for Hutt Valley and Eastbourne will be updated with some minor changes. The look of your bus will change Metlink is embracing lime and yellow! If you re catching a bus, please check the number and destination rather than the colour of the bus. From Sunday 15 July: Simpler fares so it s easy to know what to pay, plus more affordable fares are coming for eligible students, people with disabilities, and adults travelling during the off-peak periods. Detailed information on what the fare changes mean for you will be coming in late March. There will be a new rail timetable with increased off-peak services, meaning that our service will be better connected to help you get around more easily. 12 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

What does it mean if you live, work in or want to visit Eastbourne? From Sunday 17 June: Metlink buses in the Hutt Valley and Eastbourne will only accept Snapper payment cards, cash and some school passes. Rail monthly passes will still be accepted. We know that you ve been using Snapper since 2008 with the ability to transfer at no extra cost at a few locations in the Hutt Valley. From Sunday 17 June, you ll be able to transfer at no extra cost between Metlink buses (within 30 minutes of tagging off) anywhere in the Hutt Valley and Eastbourne where there is a connecting service. You ll still have to use Snapper to pay (not cash) to be able to do so. Metlink bus timetables for Hutt Valley and Eastbourne will be updated with some minor changes. The look of your bus will change Metlink is embracing lime and yellow! If you re catching a bus, please check the number and destination rather than the colour of the bus. From Sunday 15 July: Simpler fares so it s easy to know what to pay, plus more affordable fares are coming for eligible students, people with disabilities, and adults travelling during the off-peak periods. Detailed information on what the fare changes mean for you will be coming in late March. YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 13

What does it mean if you live, work in or want to visit Porirua? From Sunday 15 July: Metlink buses in Porirua will only accept Snapper payment cards and cash. Rail monthly passes will still be accepted. If you currently use a Mana/Newlands card, we ll replace your existing card with a Snapper card for free. Please don t worry, we ll have more information on how to swap to Snapper closer to the time. There will be no extra cost to transfer between Metlink buses (within 30 minutes of tagging off) when you use Snapper to pay (not cash). You ll have to use Snapper to pay (not cash) to be able to do so. There will be a new rail timetable with increased off-peak services. This means that our bus and rail services will be better connected to help you get around more easily. The look of your bus will change Metlink is embracing lime and yellow! If you re catching a bus, please check the number and destination rather than the colour of the bus. Simpler fares so it s easy to know what to pay, plus more affordable fares are coming for eligible students, people with disabilities, and adults travelling during the off-peak periods. Detailed information on what the fare changes mean for you will be coming late March. 14 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

What does it mean if you live, work in or want to visit Kapiti? From Sunday 15 July: Metlink buses in Kapiti will only accept Snapper payment cards and cash. Rail monthly passes will still be accepted. If you currently use a Mana/Newlands or Uzabus card, we ll replace your existing card with a Snapper card for free. Please don t worry, we ll have more information on how to swap to Snapper closer to the time. There will be no extra cost to transfer between Metlink buses (within 30 minutes of tagging off) when you use Snapper to pay (not cash). You ll have to use Snapper to pay (not cash) to be able to do so. There will be more Metlink services to Otaki and a new weekday bus route for Waikanae East. There will be a new rail timetable with increased off-peak services. This means that our bus and rail services will be better connected to help you get around more easily. The look of your bus will change Metlink is embracing lime and yellow! If you re catching a bus, please check the number and destination rather than the colour of the bus. Simpler fares so it s easy to know what to pay, plus more affordable fares are coming for eligible students, people with disabilities, and adults travelling during the off-peak periods. Detailed information on what the fare changes mean for you will be coming in late March. YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 15

What does it mean if you live, work in or want to visit Wellington? From Sunday 15 July: There will be a new bus network for Wellington city and its suburbs. Have a read of the next two pages to learn about what it means for you. Metlink buses in Wellington city and its suburbs will only accept Snapper payment cards and cash. Rail monthly passes will still be accepted. If you currently use a Mana/Newlands card, we ll replace your existing card with a Snapper card for free. Please don t worry, we ll have more information on how to swap to Snapper closer to the time. Already used in most of Wellington city, buses in North Wellington will start accepting Snapper payment cards and from Sunday 15 July 2018. There will be no extra cost to transfer between Metlink buses (within 30 minutes of tagging off) when you use Snapper to pay (not cash). You ll have to use Snapper to pay (not cash) to be able to do so. There will be a new rail timetable with increased off-peak services. This means that our bus and rail services will be better connected to help you get around more easily. The look of your bus will change Metlink is embracing lime and yellow! We won t be getting all the new buses at once so please bear with our assorted buses for the next wee while. If you re catching a bus, please check the number and destination rather than the colour of the bus. Simpler fares so it s easy to know what to pay, plus more affordable fares are coming for eligible students, people with disabilities, and adults travelling during the off-peak periods. Detailed information on what the fare changes mean for you will be coming in late March. 16 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

To keep our city moving, we need a bus network that is connected, simple and accessible, carrying more of you to more places, every day of the week. Wellington city s new bus network will provide: More choice about when to travel 15 per cent more services on weekdays 45 per cent more services at weekends more regular off-peak services for 26 suburbs new evening and weekend services for 12 suburbs Services tailored to your suburb more buses for growth areas and under-serviced suburbs the right size buses to match demand from small buses to double-deckers more space on buses, including double-deckers, on busy routes Snapper one way to pay for all Metlink buses Snapper accepted on all Metlink buses across the region transfers between Metlink buses at no extra cost when using Snapper More destinations within easy reach a new, simpler network of routes new feeder buses from outer suburbs to main routes buses timed to connect with other buses transfers at new or upgraded bus hubs most of you will still be able to take one bus into the central city at peak times More buses arriving on time incentives for bus operators to be more punctual fewer buses through the city will mean less congestion along the Golden Mile new routes will minimise delays caused by city traffic YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 17

Frequently Asked Questions When are the bus network changes coming? Changes are being rolled out from 30 April in three phases: Phase one, 30 April, Wairarapa Phase two, 17 June, Hutt Valley and Eastbourne Phase three, 15 July, region-wide with more significant changes in Wellington city, Kapiti and Porirua. Targeted support and information, including face-to-face support from Metlink, will roll out ahead of each phase. Where did the idea for these changes come from? We re expecting trips to increase 10% by 2024, so we need to make sure we re ready for the future. We came up with the changes after years of planning, consulting with the community and having a look at what other cities do. Are school buses also affected? There are going to be some changes to school routes and timetables. We re also giving a 50% discount on student fares. For some areas your child may have to switch to Snapper. Detailed information on how the changes will affect each area will be released in late March 2018. We re also working closely with schools to keep them up to date on changes. What will be the big differences with the new network? We re building an integrated public transport network that is simpler, more connected, consistent and that offers more choices so that people can go to more places, more often. That means rejigging our timetables so that connecting between buses, trains and ferries works better for more of us. 18 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

We re also making our fares simpler and more affordable for some of you. Special fares are coming for eligible students, people with disabilities, and adults travelling during the off-peak. Snapper will be the best way to pay for Metlink bus travel across the region all other bus payment cards will no longer be valid. Wellington city will have a new bus network with high-frequency routes and more services. We are also making some improvements to routes and timetables across the region. New buses, including high-capacity double-deckers and electric buses, are an important part of the new city network. There will be over 250 brand new buses serving the region from 15 July 2018 and another 90 early in 2019. Why is Snapper becoming the main payment system? We wanted a single payment card for all Metlink buses in the Greater Wellington region making it easier and more affordable to pay for bus travel, no matter where you are. It s the convenient and cheaper way to pay your bus fare as you ll pay at least 25% more using cash than with a Snapper card. Snapper is already used in Wellington and the Hutt Valley. Other cardholders can get a free Snapper from Metlink. Cash will still be accepted on Metlink bus services as will rail monthly passes on some connecting bus services. We ll provide much more detailed information on how to change to Snapper as we get closer to the changeover date in each region. Please let us know you are a current card holder by visiting metlink.org.nz/onourway More information about using Snapper can be found at snapper.co.nz YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 19

Frequently Asked Questions What do these changes mean for fares? There will be a general 3% fare increase the first increase in five years. But we are doing a whole lot of other things to make travel more connected and affordable. Changes include 25% off peak discount, 30-day bus passes for parts of the network, 25% discount for full-time tertiary students, 50% discount for people with disabilities, 50% discount for all school students, and free bus connections to trains with rail monthly passes in some zones. More information on the new Metlink fares will be released in late March 2018. Why do we need electric buses? We think it is the right thing to do for the environment and Greater Wellington region. We re bringing in other low-emission buses across the network and are aspiring to have a 100% electric fleet. This includes ten fully electric double-deckers in 2018. Electric buses, like trolley buses, have no emissions but offer the advantage of being able to go anywhere without the need for overhead wires. What have you done to tell people about this? General information about the changes and their background has been on the Metlink website at www.metlink.org.nz since last year. The changes follow years of talking to the Greater Wellington community. 20 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

We will be ramping up our communications over the coming five months to ensure no-one misses the information they need through our Metlink website, advertising, social media, direct mail, plus information on Metlink buses and trains and at bus stops. Detailed information on how the changes will affect each area will be released in late March 2018. How much is all this change costing? The rollout of the new bus network is part of the $1.3 billion we are investing in operating and improving public transport infrastructure and services. Where will the new bus routes run? Most route changes are in Wellington city, which will take effect on Sunday 15 July 2018. Available now on our website are two key tools that will help customers to understand how their bus routes may be changing in Wellington city. You can use our: 1) new network journey planner for the new Wellington city network to see your new bus routes and numbers, and 2) our handy suburb summaries have more information about changes to bus services in your suburb. Detailed information on bus stop and timetable changes for all areas will be released in late March 2018. YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 21

Frequently Asked Questions Why are you changing bus routes that people have used for many years? We are making major changes for the first time in 20 years to build a more connected network so that more people can travel to more places, more often. Where a route has been changed it is because we know from looking at other cities that it will help us to move more people more effectively. Where can I find out more information? You will start to see information appearing in lots of different places, including our Metlink website, advertising, social media, direct mail, plus information on Metlink buses and trains and at bus stops. Here s how we can help you: One of the best ways to get information about what the changes mean for you is to sign up to alerts at MyMetlink metlink.org.nz/my-metlink Available now on our website are two key tools that will help you to understand how your bus routes may be changing. You can use our new network journey planner for the new Wellington city network to see your new bus routes and numbers, and our handy suburb summaries have more information about changes to bus services in your suburb. 22 YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK

We re making sure everyone knows what it means for them. metlink.org.nz/onourway Is info central for general information. Sign up for regular updates from us, if you haven t already, at metlink.org.nz/my-metlink Plus, we have the usual social media channels like Twitter and Facebook for updates and important information. If you prefer to speak to us in person Our friendly team at the Metlink Contact Centre is available to help you give them a call on 0800 801 700 Plus face-to-face support from Metlink at key locations to help you in the first couple of weeks of the changes. We ll also use newspapers, brochures, posters and newsletters too. YOUR GO-TO GUIDE FOR THE NEW METLINK NETWORK 23

metlink.org.nz 0800 801 700 @metlinkwgtn /metlinkonourway