Greater Wellington Regional Council and East by West Ferries have decided to pull the plug on the fledgling Metlink Petone ferry service.

Not enough passengers used the weekday Metlink Petone – Queens Wharf ferry service during the trial which began on 1 December 2005. However, more services will be put on from Days Bay to Queens Wharf.

“The busiest trip at 8am from Petone to Queens Wharf averaged just five passengers when we were planning for 20-25.  We cannot continue to subsidise the service,” says Greater Wellington Metlink contract manager Rob Braddock.

Instead the ferry operating the Petone trial will be used to run four extra return sailings between Days Bay and Queens Wharf. Patronage on the Days Bay ferry has grown by an average of 7.5% per month over the last 12 months.

Jeremy Ward of East by West Ferries says, “While it’s disappointing the Petone service hasn’t been popular, the Days Bay to Queens Wharf service continues to grow. We put on an extra sailing last September to meet increased demand and we expect the new times will increase patronage further.”

The final weekday Petone sailings will be on 30 June. Weekend services to and from Petone will continue however and will be incorporated into a new round harbour explorer excursion that will include calls at Petone, Days Bay, Matiu Somes Island, Seatoun & Queens Wharf.

The extra Metlink Days Bay – Queens Wharf services will begin on 3 July. The new sailings include 8.10am and 9am from Days Bay and 5pm and 6pm from Queens Wharf. There will also be some other minor adjustments to the timetable. Copies of the timetable will be available from the ferry or from the usual Metlink stockists.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Rob Braddock

Metlink contract manager

Greater Wellington Regional Council
P (04) 803 0362

Email rob.braddock@gw.govt.nz

Jeremy Ward
Manager
East by West Ferries
Ph 04 499 1282