ARTA Media Release

31 January 2008

North Shore first for single bus ticket

North Shore bus commuters will be the first to use the Auckland Regional Transport Authority’s first step towards the introduction of a single transferable ticket, the Northern Pass. The new ticket will be available for use when the Northern Busway opens.

Commuters will also benefit from improvements to North Shore bus services, including increased frequency for the highly popular Northern Express service.

Auckland Regional Transport Authority General Manager, Customer Services, Mark Lambert says, “The new Northern Pass transferable ticket ARTA has developed in association with its bus operators and the Discovery Day Pass, which is now lower priced, mean commuters will also be able to easily change services between different bus operators around the North Shore. The Northern Pass is the next step in the delivery of an integrated fares system and single ticket for Auckland's train, bus and ferry users.

“The Northern Pass is a new kind of ticket; not a ticket for a specific journey. You pay once and don’t have to buy a new ticket when you board a different bus, even if the vehicle belongs to a different bus company.

“Commuters only have to buy one ticket to make any number of trips around the North Shore – as well as to and from Auckland City – for as long as the ticket is valid.

“The Northern Pass is valid from Sunday 3 February, and can be used on all North Shore bus services as far as Albany in the north and Greenhithe in the west. It is also available for bus travel between the North Shore and Auckland City, as well as on train services between Britomart and Glen Innes, or Britomart and Newmarket, Ellerslie or Kingsland. This gives you convenient new travel options if you work in Ellerslie or in Glen Innes, need to shop in Newmarket, or want to watch sport at Eden Park.

“When you buy your Northern Pass, you choose whether you want your ticket to be valid for two hours, one day or seven consecutive days. If you buy your ticket after 9am on weekdays or all day on the weekend, you can buy the After 9am Pass, which offers you unlimited travel around the North Shore and to and from Auckland City – for the same flat fee. It is a good option for casual day trippers, or if you want to watch sport at North Harbour Stadium or Eden Park,” Mr Lambert says.

The fares for the Northern Pass are based on zones, with the North Shore divided into two zones –the Upper Zone, from north of Kyle Road and Upper Harbour Drive, taking in Albany and the bays, and the Lower Zone, which covers the area south of the Upper Zone, down to the Harbour Bridge. The usual concessions will apply.

For passengers travelling from and to the Hibiscus Coast, the Auckland Discovery Day Pass has been reduced to $13.00 for unlimited daily travel across Auckland. It can be used on most passenger transport services in the Auckland region within the boundaries created by Wenderholm/Waiwera in the north, Waimauku in the west, Beachlands/Maraetai in the east, and Pukekohe/Waiuku (for buses) or Papakura (for trains) in the south. It is also valid for ferry services in the inner harbour between Beach Haven, Devonport and the Downtown Ferry Terminal. School transport services and buses on Waiheke Island are excluded.

The Discovery Day Pass is valid from 5am on the day of purchase until 5am the next morning. It is available on the bus and train, from selected ticket agents and the Fullers ticket office at the Downtown Ferry Terminal, and costs $13.00. The Discovery Month Pass costs $210.00 and can be bought at the Britomart Ticket Office and other selected ticket agents

For passengers travelling from or around the Devonport and Bayswater area and into Auckland City, the Devonport Bayswater Pass (formerly known as the MAXX 7-Day Pass) is a good option for bus, ferry and rail travel. It can be used on Ritchies and Stagecoach/North Star bus services between Takapuna and the Devonport or Bayswater wharves, Fullers ferry services between the Devonport or Bayswater wharves and the Downtown Ferry Terminal, and for train travel between Britomart and Kingsland (via Newmarket), Glen Innes and Ellerslie (via Newmarket). The seven-day Devonport Bayswater Pass is available from Fullers and the Downtown Ferry Terminal, and costs $39.00.

Other existing tickets offered by the bus operators will still be available after the Northern Busway opens on 3 February 2008. North Shore commuters can continue to travel using the same type of ticket as before if that suits them better. For those tickets, all stages and fares still apply

From 3 February, full-time tertiary students will also be eligible for a 40% discount. The discount is off the adult cash fare and applies to 10-ride tickets and the 7-Day Northern Pass. Full-time tertiary students currently receive a 20% discount. To be eligible for the 40% discount, students must show a current student ID card from their tertiary institution with a MAXX student ID sticker, which will be issued to eligible students by registered tertiary institutions.

For more information about the new Northern Pass transferable ticket, tertiary discounts and other ticket options for North Shore bus services, call MAXX on (09) 366 6400 or visit www.maxx.co.nz

The Northern Busway is a partnership between the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA), North Shore City Council, Transit New Zealand and Auckland City Council, working together with the bus operators, to provide Aucklanders with a world-class passenger transport system.

About Northern Pass transferable ticket options:
Ticket type Upper Zone, Lower Zone & to/from Auckland City (not available on Birkenhead Transport bus services) Lower Zone & to/from Auckland City Upper Zone & Lower Zone only Where to buy
Adult
2-Hour Pass $5.40 $4.30 $4.30 On bus, busway stations, Britomart Transport Centre
Day Pass $10.80 $8.60 $8.60 On bus, busway stations, Britomart Transport Centre
After 9am Pass $8.60 On bus, busway stations, Britomart Transport Centre
7-Day Pass $48.50 $38.50 $38.50 Selected ticket agents and on Northern Express Service
Concessions*
2-Hour Pass $3.20 $2.40 $2.40 On bus, busway stations, Britomart Transport Centre
Day Pass $6.40 $4.80 $4.80 On bus, busway stations, Britomart Transport Centre
7-Day Pass $28.50 $21.50 $21.50 Selected ticket agents and on Northern Express Service
7-Day Pass for tertiary students $28.50 $21.50 $21.50 At tertiary ticket stockists
Zone only Where to buy * Concession prices are available to some passengers for all passes, except the After 9am Pass, which is one flat fee for all areas. On weekdays, these options only apply after 9am. Concessions are available for:

 Children aged 5 – 15 years.

 Full-time high school students aged up to 19 years, if they are in school uniform or can show current student ID.

 Tertiary students can buy a 7-Day Pass from their tertiary ticket stockist at concession rates if they show a current student ID or official letter of eligibility.

 Senior Citizens with a valid ARTA Senior Citizen ID card or SuperGold Card.

Where to buy the Northern Pass transferable ticket:

Ticket agents* Passes available
Northern Busway stations and the Britomart Transport Centre Full range of Northern Passes

Retail outlets 7-Day Passes only
On board the bus 2-Hour Pass, After 9am Pass, Day Pass and 7-Day Pass (7-Day Pass sold on Northern Express buses only)
Please note that Birkenhead Transport services do not sell Upper Zone tickets to/from Auckland City on board the buses.

*Ticket agents:

North Shore

 Albany Park and Ride

 Constellation Park and Ride

 Sunnynook Station

 Smales Farm Station

 Akoranga Station

 Birkenhead Transport Depot, 2/22 Verrans Rd, Birkenhead

 NZ Bus Shore Depot, 71 Diana Drive, Glenfield Bus Depot

 Magascene, 33 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna

 Milford Paper Power, 174 Kitchener Road, Milford

 Northcross Dairy, 851 East Coast Road, Browns Bay

 Shore City Galleria, 1st Floor Info Booth, Takapuna

 Stationery City, Mega Centre, Albany

 Sunnynook Paper Power, 2/106 Sunnynook Road, Sunnynook Centre

 Torbay Dairy, 1030 Beach Rd, Torbay

 Toyworld, 71 Clyde Road, Browns Bay

 Windsor Park Superette, 526 East Coast Road, Mairangi Bay

Auckland Central  Auckland Visitors Centre, Sky City Complex, Ground Level, Victoria Street, Auckland Central  Britomart Transport Centre, Lower Queen Street, Auckland Central  Mid City Lotto, Mid City Complex, 239-249 Queen Street, Auckland Central  NZ Convenience Store, 133 Hobson St, Auckland Central  One Stop Convenience, 135 Karangahape Road (near Queen Street), Auckland Central  Shortland Superette, 18 Shortland Street, Corner Jean Batten Place, Auckland Central  Star Mart, St James, 316 Queen Street, Auckland Central  Star Mart, 222 Queen Street, Auckland Central  Star Mart, 4 Fort Street, Auckland Central  Star Mart, 155 Queen Street, Auckland Central  Star Mart, Harbour Building, Quay Street, Auckland Central  Tower Lotto, BNZ Tower, 125 Queen Street, Auckland Central  Victoria St Lotto, 67 Victoria St, Auckland Central  Willy Wonka, Ground floor, Downtown Shopping Mall , Auckland Central  Five Talents Convenience Store, 238 Broadway, Newmarket  Khyber Pass Newsagency, 444 Khyber Pass Road Newmarket

Tertiary agencies  AUSA, University of Auckland, City Campus, Princes Street, Auckland Central  AUT Wellesley Campus, Wellesley Street, Auckland Central  AUT Akoranga Campus, Akoranga  Britomart Transport Centre, Lower Queen Street, Auckland Central  Massey University, Albany  Stationery City, Mega Centre, Albany  Toyworld, 71 Clyde Road, Browns Bay  Victoria St Lotto, 67 Victoria St, Auckland Central

ENDS

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