The Busway in Brief

If you're new to this weblog, here's the place to start...

What is the busway?

The Regional Council is reviewing the future of the Johnsonville rail line. One option is "the busway". It is the only option which will benefit all public transport users in the Northern Suburbs.

• If you currently catch buses, the busway will let you bypass traffic congestion. No more slow trips down Ngauranga Gorge.
• If you currently catch trains, the busway will cut your waiting times and carry you right into the CBD. No more long waits on wet mornings. No more long walks from Wellington Station to your office.

Here's how it works: we replace the Johnsonville train tracks with a special concrete "track" for buses. Buses pick up passengers - at existing bus stops and at rail stations - then they drive onto the busway. They drive all the way down the busway to the city, with no traffic congestion or hold-ups. Once they reach city, they leave the busway and drive along Lambton Quay.

Details

Some buses will act like replacement trains. They will drive along the busway and stop at each station - just like the trains, except they'll be one every 5 minutes in rush hour (so you'll never have to wait long) and they'll drive down Lambton Quay (so you won't have to walk through the CBD).

Other buses will be express services from the suburbs. They will replace the existing buses in Newlands, Churton Park and the surrounding suburbs. They'll stop at existing bus stops all around the suburbs, just like the buses you catch now. Then, they'll drive onto the busway and go non-stop all the way to Wellington. (Express buses will be able to pass buses that are stopped at stations, because the busway will have a passing lane at each station.) Once they reach the city, they will drive down Lambton Quay.

The busway is forecast to be cheaper than buying new trains and fixing the rail tracks. Adelaide, Australia, has run a very successful busway for 20 years.

About this Weblog

I'm not affiliated with any business or special interest group; I'm just a local resident who's sick of spending hours each week stuck in traffic. I want a public transport solution that works for everybody in the Northern Suburbs. That solution is the busway. I started this weblog because the other options made me mad.

If you have any questions about the busway, please email me or leave a comment at the bottom of any page on this weblog. My email address is: