Patronage on ferry services has doubled thanks to increased sailings.
Auckland Transport and Fullers are trialling extra ferry services to and from Birkenhead, Northcote Point and Bayswater.
Auckland Transport manager public transport operations Mark Lambert says passenger numbers since the beginning of the trial on December 17 have doubled compared to the same weekends the previous year.
“Feedback from customers has been positive with most comments being about how the improved timetable gives people more options for travel into Auckland central,” Mr Lambert says.
“Some passengers have been asking about an even later sailing to the North Shore,” he says.
Mr Lambert says the best patronage was over Christmas weekend.
There were around 600 passenger trips on both Boxing Day and the day after.
Ferry users have been encouraged to take advantage of the 11-week trial in the hope of seeing the timetable extended.
It runs until February 26 and was developed after residents asked for more services over the weekends.
Mr Lambert says a detailed analysis is yet to be done and it’s too early to say whether the trial will be extended.
Visit www.fullers.co.nz for timetable information on services.
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Written by: LISA HONEYBONE
Reprinted with permission: Auckland Now – North Shore Times