Metlink switches to a weekend schedule for their buses on weekdays - so people are left standing angrily as the bus whizzes by full

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Metlink switches to a weekend schedule for their buses on weekdays - so people are left standing angrily as the bus whizzes by full

lchiu7

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#303095 16-Jan-2023 13:42

This might be just one isolated incident but I suspect not.

Metlink has switched to a weekend schedule for their buses during them working week because of driver shortages and this way they can guarantee buses will come on schedule.

Waiting for a bus this morning in Khandallah which was supposed to arrive at 7am but didn't turn up until 7:10 and it arrived full because the buses are only running once an hour so the usual number of passengers spread across 3 buses are crammed into one.

Luckily I was able to get on (glad I masked up because got quite close and personal to fellow passengers but then the bus made no further stops to pick up passengers until it reached the railroad station as it was full. I felt some sympathy for those passengers at all the stops en route to the city, looking in despair as the bus whizzed by and knowing the next bus would not be for another hour!

Is this what we call a reasonable bus service?

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Mad Scientist
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#3022033 16-Jan-2023 13:50

best way to keep on schedule is to never stop. that's an old trick.

DjShadow

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#3022034 16-Jan-2023 13:50

Is the train station much of a walk from where you are?

alasta

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#3022041 16-Jan-2023 14:04

It's disgraceful. I've been walking 6.5km each morning and evening between town and Island Bay because the bus service here is currently unusable. Fortunately with the good weather this week I'm planning to have a swim in the harbour after work and go home a bit later so that I can avoid the peak time.

It's going to be really interesting to see what happens after the 27th when the standard timetable is supposed to return. Late last year the number of cancellations was getting to a point where it was becoming extremely difficult to get home, although the morning didn't seem quite so bad.

freitasm

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#3022043 16-Jan-2023 14:12

lchiu7:

Is this what we call a reasonable bus service?

And yet, the powers that be want to move people from driving to public transport. The only actions are to increase parking prices, remove parking options and change streets to pedestrian only.

Nothing about actually having public transport.

lchiu7

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#3022047 16-Jan-2023 14:21

DjShadow:

Is the train station much of a walk from where you are?

6k's - 77 minute walk according to Google

freitasm

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#3022049 16-Jan-2023 14:23

lchiu7:

DjShadow:

Is the train station much of a walk from where you are?

6k's - 77 minute walk according to Google

I think he wanted to know the local (Khandallah) station.

froob

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#3022054 16-Jan-2023 14:35

We were caught out this morning by the same thing - will have to switch to trains for the rest of the month. One bus per hour is never going to be close to enough for morning commuters on our route.

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alasta

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#3022077 16-Jan-2023 15:28

freitasm:

And yet, the powers that be want to move people from driving to public transport. The only actions are to increase parking prices, remove parking options and change streets to pedestrian only.

Nothing about actually having public transport.

It seems like the city council want to make it impossible to use our cars, while the regional council are making it impossible to use public transport. I don't know how they expect us to get anywhere beyond walking distance!

lchiu7

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#3022082 16-Jan-2023 15:37

freitasm:

I think he wanted to know the local (Khandallah) station.

Oops - 1.8km. I am not going to walk there to catch the train.

lchiu7

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#3022084 16-Jan-2023 15:39

froob: We were caught out this morning by the same thing - will have to switch to trains for the rest of the month. One bus per hour is never going to be close to enough for morning commuters on our route.

And it applies in reverse so to go home 3:55 (too early as I normally leave aat 4:15) and 4:55 (and it's going to be packed to be sure))

lchiu7

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#3022086 16-Jan-2023 15:41

alasta:

freitasm:

And yet, the powers that be want to move people from driving to public transport. The only actions are to increase parking prices, remove parking options and change streets to pedestrian only.

Nothing about actually having public transport.

It seems like the city council want to make it impossible to use our cars, while the regional council are making it impossible to use public transport. I don't know how they expect us to get anywhere beyond walking distance!

With all the money they are speding on cycleways perhaps they want us to cycle or use scooters?

mattwnz

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#3022091 16-Jan-2023 15:51

alasta:

freitasm:

And yet, the powers that be want to move people from driving to public transport. The only actions are to increase parking prices, remove parking options and change streets to pedestrian only.

Nothing about actually having public transport.

It seems like the city council want to make it impossible to use our cars, while the regional council are making it impossible to use public transport. I don't know how they expect us to get anywhere beyond walking distance!

Plus add in reducing speeds on roads because they aren't safe enough, like they are doing in the Wairarapa with State highway 2, when they could instead install median barriers, crazy stuff.

You pretty much have no option but to have a car in suburbs of Wellington or know someone with a car. But we are building some great new roads around Wellington for cars.

alasta

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#3022098 16-Jan-2023 16:11

lchiu7:

With all the money they are speding on cycleways perhaps they want us to cycle or use scooters?

They'll never get me on a bicycle no matter how hard they try!

johno1234

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#3022102 16-Jan-2023 16:31

alasta:

freitasm:

And yet, the powers that be want to move people from driving to public transport. The only actions are to increase parking prices, remove parking options and change streets to pedestrian only.

Nothing about actually having public transport.

It seems like the city council want to make it impossible to use our cars, while the regional council are making it impossible to use public transport. I don't know how they expect us to get anywhere beyond walking distance!

Take the bicycle. Lovely on a windy Wellington rainy day, getting up a hill, with your shopping in a bag. Wonderful stuff.

johno1234

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#3022104 16-Jan-2023 16:32

lchiu7:

With all the money they are speding on cycleways perhaps they want us to cycle or use scooters?

There seems to be a disconnect between spending money on cycleways and getting cycleways.

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