The fares for the three LINK bus routes that we’ll have operational from August 21st was announced today by Auckland Transport:
Auckland’s newest bus services, the Outer, Inner and City LINK bus services begin operating on Sunday 21 August.
Auckland Transport’s Public Transport Operations Manager, Mark Lambert says, “Fare structures have now been finalised for all three services.
“For the new Outer LINK bus service, customers will pay no more than the standard two stage fare of $3.40 which will connect central suburbs including Herne Bay, Pt Chevalier, St Lukes, Mt Eden and Newmarket.
“The Outer Link is a cost effective and easy way to get around Auckland’s most popular city fringe suburbs.
“The new Inner LINK service, which replaces the existing LINK service, will retain a flat $1.80 fare and run a revised route that provides a more direct and reliable service for customers”.
Mr Lambert says, “The new City LINK bus will remain free until the end of this year as part of the service introduction period. From 1 January 2012, the City LINK will remain free to HOP card users and cost 50 cents for other full-fare cash paying passengers with other concessions for school students, children and seniors.
“HOP card users receive an additional discount of at least ten per cent.”
New high quality buses painted red, amber and green will operate on the three LINK services. The new buses will be air conditioned, wheel-chair accessible, buggy friendly and meet Euro 5+ emissions standards.
Full details of the new LINK services and revised CBD and Western Bays bus routes are available on the MAXX website.
There are a few good things here. I like the way that we’ll get a free trial of the City Link route, but that eventually it will be free for HOP card users – providing a useful “last leg” of trips into town but also being an incentive for people to get HOP cards. I also like the way that the Outer Link’s far structure is put together – that even though there are various stage points around the route, the most you’ll pay is a two-stage fare.
Of course the really interesting thing about the Outer Link will be whether it can run reliably. We’ll have to wait and see on that matter.
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Sounds good! Even better if free Hop transfers were allowed between the different Links, or between all inner city buses. e.g. 020 -> 030
Can’t believe my Hop card will not work on the new trams @ Wynyard.
Sounds pretty good. Even for full fare payers, 50c is very cheap. I expect this to be a wonderful success.
Can’t believe my Hop card will not work on the new trams @ Wynyard.
It’s terribly disappointing. This is because it has been decided that they’re ten dollar tourist toys.
50c is the current inner city bus fare on any bus.