13 July 2016

Gold card still super for all bus travel in the Wellington region

SuperGold will continue to be the only public transport card senior Metlink customers will need when the region’s bus ticketing system becomes seamless in early 2018.

Greater Wellington Regional Council announced this week it’s in negotiations with Snapper Services Ltd to provide a common electronic ticketing system on all regional bus services.

Chris Laidlaw, Chair of the Regional Council, assures SuperGold card holders that their card will still be absolutely fit for purpose. “SuperGold card holders won’t have to buy a new card, nothing will change for them. They’ll continue to use their SuperGold card to travel free during off peak times on Metlink buses, trains and harbour ferries.”

Caroline Hubbard, a member of Grey Power Wellington Central Committee, says senior citizens will be delighted they will still be able to use their SuperGold for all bus travel. “The SuperGold is our integrated travel card and it makes public transport so easy and convenient.”

The new bus electronic ticketing system will be an interim solution for the bus network only. “The Regional Council is committed to introducing a fully integrated electronic ticketing and fares system for the entire Metlink public transport network of trains, buses and harbour ferries. And we are working with the National Ticketing Programme (a group of Regional Councils and the NZ Transport Agency) on a national road map for a ticketing system.

“A fully integrated ticketing system is still some years off and no decisions have been made about how the SuperGold fits with this.”

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