Media Release: Auckland Regional Transport Authority - 27 May 2005

Go to the MAXX!!

MAXX. The new name for public transport in the Auckland region.

From Monday 30 May callers to the region's popular public transport information line will no longer be greeted by "Welcome to Rideline," but will instead be welcomed to the new and integrated customer experience, known as MAXX.

MAXX will continue to provide the same award-winning services that Rideline customers have enjoyed for the last eight years - so why the name change?

"Our high quality public transport brand is starting to appear on more and more parts of our transport network," says Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) CEO Alan Thompson.

"Refurbished trains, new timetables, bus stop signs and rail station signage, the Britomart Transport Centre, and ferry wharves and terminals now carry the MAXX brand. It is the logical next step to bring our high-quality contact centre Rideline, into the MAXX stable to create a seamless travel experience," he says.

MAXX's predecessor, Rideline, was created by the Auckland Regional Council in 1997 and has come a long way from the paper-based system with four staff, operating out of a back room and taking 200 calls per day.

In 2000 Rideline adopted the vision to, "Provide a quality customer contact centre to give confidence to the users of public transport in the Auckland region.". Recent award-winning efforts are proof of the achievement of this goal.

In the last five years, Rideline has developed a computerised enquiry system that includes public transport routes, timetables and location information. A sophisticated new telephony system and specially developed staff training programmes ensure that targets are met and customers have confidence in the information they are provided.

The contact centre is now receiving an average of 4,029 calls each day for bus, train and ferry information. The website, launched in May 2001, receives around 636,000 visits to its journey planner each year, and the text service that has been operating for the last three years averages 120,000 requests a year.

MAXX is funded by the region's ratepayers through ARTA, contributions from government funding body Land Transport New Zealand, and public transport operators who contribute around one third of the annual budget.

A new and enhanced MAXX website will be launched on July 1. For now, customers will continue to use the current Rideline website which they can also get to using the new www.maxx.co.nz address.

"So, if you want to plan a great day out on the bus or ferry, or find out how to get to the Lions rugby games in July by train or bus, just pick up the phone and call MAXX on 09 366 6400," says Mr Thompson.

And yes, MAXX does stand for something. MAXX stands for comfortable and attractive facilities for commuters; fast, frequent and more reliable transport services; and comprehensive transport information. MAXX is not another acronym, but a symbol of quality. Welcome to MAXX.

ENDS

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