New Hutt Valley - Wellington Hospital bus service

Hutt Valley people will be able to take the bus directly to Wellington Hospital, from February next year.

Greater Wellington Regional Council’s transport and access committee chairman Peter Glensor announced today that newly re-named local bus company Valley Flyer proposes to extend its route 83, which currently runs from Eastbourne via Queensgate to Courtenay Place, on to Wellington Hospital. The extended service will run half hourly between 8am and 5pm on weekdays.

The service is part of Metlink – Greater Wellington’s public transport network.

“Thousands of Hutt Valley people go to Wellington Hospital every year – as staff, as out-patients, or as visitors of family or friends. A service that takes them to the door of the hospital will be pretty attractive, especially at a return fare of $10, or $5 if you are over 60,” said Cr Glensor, who is also Chairman of the Hutt Valley District Health Board. “We’re delighted to find a way to meet this need. It’s been a real shared exercise between the bus company, our local MPs, our two city councils, the DHB and the Regional Council.

“And another great thing about this new service is that the 83 route uses kneeling buses which provide better access for disabled passengers.”

A daily STARPass means passengers can catch any Valley Flyer or Airport Flyer bus to Queensgate then change to the new Wellington Hospital route - and return – for $10. Passengers aged over 60 get an even better deal, with a $5 daily pass valid after 9am.

For the first four months, until July 2008, the cost of the trial service will be met by Valley Flyer which is already paid a subsidy, by Greater Wellington, to run the route to Courtenay Place.

“This will allow time for the trial to be evaluated, before decisions are made about an ongoing service,” said Cr Glensor.

Valley Flyer Manager Matthew Lear said that his company was always looking to improve its bus services. “We are delighted to join with Greater Wellington Regional Council in trialling this new service. We are hopeful that the new service will prove popular once Hutt Valley people realise how convenient and cheap it will make travel to Wellington Hospital.”