“The growth in rail travel is a success story for Auckland. Every passenger commuting to work by train is one less car on the road during peak hour travel. Last year we achieved the milestone of 20 million passenger trips a year, four years ahead of schedule.”
The growth in Auckland public transport patronage and services continues
Rail growth
Auckland Transport figures show that annual growth in public transport boardings is almost 8 per cent. In 2019, public transport patronage totalled 103.2 million passenger boardings. AT Metro train services carried more than 22 million passengers in the past 12 months. That’s the highest rate ever, train patronage is growing at 6 per cent a year
Between 2003 and 2017 Auckland’s population grew 28 per cent, yet public transport patronage increased by 63 per cent − more than double the population growth.
In Feb 2014, annual rail patronage had been 10.9 million.
In Feb 2016, it was 15.8 million, a 45% increase in just two years.
In April 2016, it passed 16.2 million.
In 2015 alone, rail patronage increased 22.9 per cent or 2.9 million trips to total 15.4 million trips.
The patronage target of 20 million trips per year, originally set by the government for funding of the CRL, was achieved at the end of 2016 three years ahead of schedule.
About every four months, an extra million trips are being added to the patronage total – 3.5m in total a year.
Auckland's rail patronage growth
GRAPH: Aucklands public transport patronage by mode, 1920-2017
GRAPH: Auckland Transport graph showing Auckland rail patronage from 2010-2018
Public transport growth
Public transport use in Auckland is growing fast. In June 2019, it reached a milestone: Aucklanders had made 100 million public transport trips in the past year, making this the biggest year for buses, trains and ferries in the city since 1951. Everyday 270,000 trips are taken on public transport in Auckland.
In 2017, another milestone was achieved as the 90 million trips made on buses, trains and ferries over the previous 12 months made it the biggest 12-month number for public transport in the city since 1956
Auckland Transport figures show that Auckland train services totalled 22.0 million passenger boardings for the 12-months to February 2020, an increase of +5.4% on the previous year.
Cycling growth
We’re seeing a resurgence in cycling. AT’s 2018/19 target was to complete 10 km of new cycleways.
Bus patronage growth
According to Auckland Transport, Auckland bus services totalled 75.3 million passenger boardings for the 12-months to February 2020, an increase +7.0% on the previous year.
Buses are proving so popular, double decker buses have been introduced including on the main arterial routes such as on Mt Eden Road.
Ferry services grow
Aucklanders are discovering ferries so more services have been added and to more places.
Public transport improvements
AT introduced a new network to areas of Auckland with the aim to make bus, ferry and train schedules compatible with each other and better suited to the needs of Aucklanders.
To support a more connected public transport network across Auckland, Auckland Transport redesigned the fare stage system and introduced a Simplified Zone Fare system. Integrated ticketing meant you pay one fare for your entire journey rather than paying separately for each leg.