Wairarapa bus changes take effect 30 September 2012

Changes to Wairarapa bus services, including a new Masterton East bus route, more bus services between Woodside Station and Greytown, and the removal of some poorly patronised services will take effect from Sunday 30 September 2012.

The changes have come out of a review of Wairarapa public transport services which Greater Wellington began last year. Changes to train services are still being explored with KiwiRail.

Cr Peter Glensor, Chair of Greater Wellington’s Economic Wellbeing Committee, which oversees public transport, says Masterton East residents will have a regular weekday bus service for the first time. “Feedback we received from people during the review showed a definite need for a weekday bus service on the east side of Masterton. The new route will run from Church Street around the Cameron Crescent area via Johnstone Street and Worksop Road. There’ll be three services a day, between 10am and 3pm.”

Other weekday Masterton bus routes will alter slightly to include some popular destinations. The Masterton West route, no.201, will include the Marae Health Centre in Cole Street and the new Mitre 10 MegaCentre in Ngaumutawa Road. Route 203, the Masterton-Lansdowne Circuit, will be extended to run to Lansdowne Village in Titoki Street.

Cr Glensor says all the weekday Masterton routes will run three times a day instead of four. “Passenger numbers on the last services for the day are very low so removal of these services will help pay for the new east Masterton route.”

There’ll also be more bus services between Woodside Station and Greytown. “There will be connecting bus services to and from Woodside Station for all weekday and Saturday trains. The only exception will be the late night Friday trains as bus connections with these services are not well patronised at all.”

Late Friday night bus services between Martinborough and Featherston will also be removed next from next month and weekend bus services between Masterton, Featherston and Martinborough will run only on Saturdays.

On Monday 1 October, the day after the Wairarapa bus changes come into place, some Wairarapa bus and train fares will increase, as a result of Greater Wellington’s annual fare review. Fares for bus travel within Masterton will not change, but a single adult fare between Masterton and Featherston will increase by 50c and monthly WairarapaPlus combined bus and train passes will increase by about 3 percent.

New timetables for Wairarapa bus services are available at www.metlink.org.nz and your local Metlink stockist from Monday 24 September 2012.

ENDS

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