Print view

Rapid transit

The ARC is working to create a rapid transit network with high-frequency, high-quality services that do not get held up by road traffic congestion.

Such a system, mooted since the 1950s, is now becoming a reality. The first phase of construction of the rapid transit network includes upgrading and expanding the rail network and the new Northern Busway.

Suburban and town centres, and local neighbourhoods, which are not situated on the Busway or rail corridor will be served by ferry and bus services which can connect commuters to the high-speed network.

Although still in development, improvements towards a rapid transit network have seen the number of people using public transport rise. There were more than 52.4 million journeys taken on public transport in 2006-07, up by 1.2 million from the year before - largely due to more people using trains and the Busway.

The Northern Busway

The Northern Busway had already carried more than 1 million passengers before its official opening on 2 February, 2008. It is New Zealand's first purpose-built road dedicated to buses.

At peak travel times, buses can make the journey to and from the central business district about twice as fast as the cars on the motorway next to it.

The Busway runs alongside State Highway 1, from Constellation Drive in the north to the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is 8.7km long, and has park-and-ride facilities at Albany and Constellation Drive. It is the North Shore's equivalent of a rail service, with buses connecting with trains at Britomart station.

The Northern Busway has been a collaboration between Transit New Zealand, North Shore City Council, Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority.

Auckland Regional Council ratepayers helped build the stations, and they will continue to provide the regional transport authority with ongoing funding for bus services. That regional funding is matched by grants from Land Transport New Zealand.

Transit built the two-way road that forms the Busway's ‘spine'. The $210 million funding for this, including $180 million construction costs, has been provided by Land Transport New Zealand.

The construction of the five Busway stations has been funded by the North Shore City Council ($35 million) and Auckland Regional Transport Authority ($50 million, $40 million of which was granted by the now disbanded regional funding agency Infrastructure Auckland).

Follow this link for FAQs about the Northern Busway


The rail network

Auckland is transforming its rail system into an attractive, modern public transport option. In recent years, trains have been returned to the heart of Auckland's CBD, the train fleet has undergone extensive refurbishment, and more trains have been added. Reliability will improve and services will increase, over time, as further trains are brought onto the network.

Much is being done to modernise the commuter rail network: