News release
26 June 2007

Greater Wellington Regional Council
www.gw.govt.nz

No Change For Harbour Ferry Services

A review of Wellington Harbour ferry has found no current need to alter services, Wellington Regional councillors decided today.

Fares, timetables, capacity and destinations were included in a comprehensive analysis of the services provided by East by West Limited, whose contract expires in November.

Passengers were found to be well served under the existing arrangements and it was agreed no change was necessary at this stage.

As part of the review, councillors were also asked to consider two additional services - a stand-alone Seatoun to Queens Wharf commuter service and a diversion to the eastern suburb of a single peak trip from Days Bay to Queens Wharf.

Following a survey of passengers, Greater Wellington’s passenger transport committee today agreed that a subsidised stand-alone service was not a viable option but that a subsidised diverted service to Queens Wharf via Seatoun would be considered again next year.

At an earlier meeting councillors rejected a recommendation not to support the additional services and asked officials to look at the proposal again. Today’s agreement was reached following discussions with East by West Limited.

However, councillors recommended that there were no restrictions on operators running a trial Seatoun service on a commercial – ie. non-subsidised- basis.

ENDS

Notes for editors

* Earlier this year, a market research company was commissioned to measure support for a stand alone Seatoun to Queens Wharf service among residents in Eastbourne and Seatoun. Schools and community groups were also consulted.

* It was found that there was a wide range of preferred departure times in the Seatoun and Worser Bay areas indicating several trips would be needed from Seatoun to Queens Wharf.

* Of those who were asked about the Days Bay / Queen Wharf diverted service to Seatoun, a significant number of commuters said they would switch to an earlier service to make up time lost travelling to Seatoun. That would mean additional passengers travelling on a service which was already running near capacity, limiting the ability to further grow the service.

*** Greater Wellington is the promotional name of the Wellington Regional Council.

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