Articulated Buses for Route 2
Description
Metlink is introducing electric articulated buses to meet growing passenger demand on Route 2.
An articulated bus is usually a single-decker, comprised of two or more rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint (articulation). This creates a longer length and higher passenger capacity while still allowing the bus to manoeuvre adequately.
Five electric articulated buses will be introduced in 2026 to run between Karori and the end of Courtenay Place.
Decisions will then be made whether to introduce additional buses to run the full length of Route 2.
Background
Route 2 runs between Karori and Miramar/Seatoun. This is Wellington’s busiest bus route and passenger demand is still growing.
Passenger capacity has been reached during peak travel times and is expected to nearly double over the next ten years. Metlink needs to meet this demand to avoid residents being left behind at bus stops.
Double decker buses cannot be used due to the size of the Karori and Seatoun tunnels and adding standard size buses will cause additional congestion. This congestion would also impact other bus services along the route, such as the Golden Mile and through the single-lane Hataitai bus tunnel.
It is proposed to introduce five electric articulated buses in 2026 to help meet this increase in demand. The timeline will become clearer as the project progresses.
These buses will run from Karori to the end of Courtenay Place. This is because the Karori end of Route 2 is the busiest section and some infrastructure has already been upgraded including bus stops, led by Wellington City Council through the Karori Connections project.
Consideration will then be given to adding more of these buses and extending their route to Miramar and Seatoun.
The Courtenay Place to Seatoun/Miramar section of the Route 2 corridor would require bus stop and roading design improvements before electric articulated buses could be introduced.
Partnerships
Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) is working with Wellington City Council (WCC) and the bus service operator Kinetic on this project.
Benefits
Electric articulated buses will allow passenger demand to be met with far fewer buses than would otherwise be required. Electric articulated buses have a capacity of 112 passengers, which is 65% more than the capacity of buses currently used on the route. When compared to our largest electric double decker bus, the new articulated bus will be able to carry 12% more passengers.
This allows us to increase capacity without adding further congestion along the route for bus and other road users.
In line with our commitment to de-carbonise the bus fleet, only electric articulated buses will be introduced.
Impact
Infrastructure works on Route 2 between Karori and Courtenay Place have already been completed by WCC or are currently underway.
With the remainder of Route 2 from Courtenay Place through to Miramar/Seatoun, additional work would need to be completed to accommodate these buses. This includes longer bus stops, which will also be required so that two buses can use these at the same time if more standard buses are introduced instead of articulated buses. Some intersections would also be improved to allow buses to manoeuvre better.