PT Patronage Leaps 9.1% In Year

in Auckland Bus Featured General Trains by Jon C — December 21, 2011 at 11:42 am | 4 comments

People using public transport in Auckland continues to take giant leaps - a 9.1% increase in the last 12 months.

Auckland public transport patronage totalled 69,032,572 passengers for the 12-months to Nov 2011 an increase of 5,738,734 boardings or +9.1%.

November monthly patronage was 6,023,865 an increase of 441,624 boardings or +7.9% on
Nov 2010.

Here are those month’s highlights:

• Rail monthly patronage for November is 887,576 an increase of 18,021 boardings or +2.1%on Nov 2010.

• Northern Express bus service carried 2,225,780 passenger trips for the 12-months with agrowth in Nov 2011 compared to Nov 2010 of +16.7%.

• Strong growth in the use of Isthmus bus services is a standout for the three months since theservice resdesign in August 2011, which included the launch of the City Inner and OuterLINK services. Growth has averaged over 15.5% year-on-year.
• For the financial year-to-date, five months to Nov 2011, patronage has grown by +11.8% (3,268,917 boardings). Patronage for Nov 2011 was 6,023,865 boardings, an increase of +7.9% (441,624 boardings) on Nov 2010.

Delving deeper into the figures means some events have to be taken into account when comparing with last year.
November saw a return to BAU and this is reflected in the monthly patronage figures when compared to last year. In the same month last year there were three major events where free travel arrangements were included as part of the event ticket price (Four Nations Rugby League at Eden Park and two U2 Concerts at Mt Smart Stadium) that boosted the patronage numbers recorded in the month.
The special events this year were the Wellington Phoenix versus Adelaide United AFC match at Eden Park on 19 November and the World Triathlon event in the CBD the following day. Additional trains were also provided to the annual Farmers Santa Parade during both years. All these services were fare paying services. Another factor that influenced the comparative patronage numbers were the number of network closures to progress infrastructure upgrade projects. This year there was one full weekend network closure and one partial network closure compared to two partial network closures for the same month last year.
The net result was that rail patronage for November 2011 was 887,576, or 2.1% more than the same month last year.
Adjusting for the patronage to and from the three “free travel” events that were included in last year’s numbers, the comparative growth for the month is 9.1%. Rail patronage totalled 10,829,282 passengers for the 12-months to November 2011 an increase of 1,779,555 boardings or +19.7%.

Southern Line
For the financial year-to-date to November 2011, patronage has grown by +23.1% (964,678 boardings) Southern and Eastern Line rail patronage including the Onehunga Line totalled 6,805,535 passengers for the 12-months to November 2011 an increase of 861,407 boardings or +14.5% on the same period last year. Patronage for November 2011 was 574,396 boardings, an increase of +0.9% (5,189 boardings) on November 2010.
In November 2011 there were 509,007 passengers recorded travelling on the Southern and Eastern Lines, excluding the Onehunga Line, a change of -5,998 passengers, or -1.2% on Novemver 2010. The factors influencing this result was that for the same month last year the patronage carried to the two U2 concerts at Mt Smart Stadium was principally carried on this service group and two weekend line blocks this year compared to a partial block on one weekend only last year. For the year-to-date there have been 2,814,777 passengers recorded on Southern and Eastern Line services, 9.1% more than for the same period last year.

Onehunga
There were 65,389 passengers recorded using the Onehunga Line during November compared to 54,202 for the same month last year, an increase of 11,187 or +20.6%. Additional services were supplied on the Onehunga Line for the Farmers Santa Parade this year (none last year). For the 12-months to November 2011 there have been 729,165 passengers recorded on Onehunga Line services. Surveys indicate that 60% of patronage on Onehunga trains is wholly on the Southern Line (between Britomart and Penrose).

Western
Western Line rail patronage totalled 4,023,747 passengers for the 12-months to November2011 an increase of 918,485 boardings or +29.6%.
Patronage for November 2011 was 313,180 boardings, an increase of +4.3% (12,832 boardings) on November 2010 , For the year-to-date there have been 1,983,781 passengers recorded on Western Line services 510,255 (+34.6%) more than for the same period last year.

Bus
Northern Express patronage totalled 2,225,780 passengers for the 12-months to Nov 2011 -an increase of 318,344 boardings or +16.7%.
For the financial year-to-date, five months to Nov 2011, patronage has grown by +19.7% (168,890 boardings).
Patronage for Nov 2011 was 179,961 boardings, an increase of +10.7% (17,387 boardings) on Nov 2010.
Passengers on bus services other than the Northern Express Patronage totalled 50,888,853 passengers for the 12-months to Nov 2011 an increase of 3,140,069 boardings or +6.6%.
For the financial year-to-date, five months to Nov 2011, patronage has grown by +8.5% (1,782,409 boardings). Patronage for Nov 2011 was 4,501,763 boardings, an increase of +8.5% (352,426 boardings) on Nov 2010.

Ferry
Ferry patronage totalled 5,088,657 passengers for the 12-months to Nov 2011 an increase of500,766 boardings or +10.9%.
For the financial year-to-date, five months to Nov 2011, patronage has grown by +19.7% (352,940 boardings). Patronage for Nov 2011 was 454,565 boardings, an increase of +13.4% (53,790 boardings) on Nov 2010 .

Tags: patronage