Kia ora,

The Government has announced that Auckland will be moving to Alert Level 2 at midnight on Sunday 30 August.

To give you enough room for physical distancing, we will limit the number of people who can travel on each bus, train, and ferry. When you’re on board, please follow the signs showing where you can sit, and avoid sitting next to someone you don’t know. If you are able to travel outside of morning and afternoon peak times, physical distancing will be easier.

Check out this short how-to video about using public transport during Alert Level 2.

Wearing a face covering

To help keep us all safe, the Ministry of Health has now made it mandatory for everyone over the age of 12 to wear a face covering while on public transport. You don’t need to wear a face covering if you have a disability or condition that makes it unsuitable to cover your face.

To learn how to make a face covering or for more information, please visit the Government's COVID-19 website.

Train services

As a reminder, trains are operating on a reduced frequency and will operate at slower speeds while KiwiRail carries out urgent track maintenance. You can use the journey planner feature in our AT Mobile app or Journey Planner on our website to find out your new train journey times. Remember:

• On weekdays during morning and afternoon peaks, trains will operate every 20 minutes (or 30 minutes on the Onehunga Line) instead of every 10 minutes.
• During the weekend, trains will run every 30 minutes instead of every 20 minutes.
• Trains will be travelling slower, which will increase your journey time.
• Where possible, trains will have six carriages to accommodate more passengers.
• If you’re an Eastern Line customer, please remember that buses will replace trains from between Britomart and Otahuhu until Sunday 6 September. Closing this section of the line will allow KiwiRail to complete the Eastern Line maintenance work faster.

For further information please visit our website.

When travelling on buses

• Please use the rear door to get on and off buses, tagging on and off using the AT HOP card reader inside the rear door.
• If you use a wheelchair or mobility device, are vision-impaired, or require driver assistance, you can still get on and off using the front door.

Each bus will have a sign showing the number of passengers it can carry.

School buses

AT school bus services will be back to normal during Alert Level 2. Following the Government’s guidelines, face coverings and physical distancing are not required on school buses. We will continue to clean school buses in accordance with Government guidance.

We also recommend that parents wait with their child(ren) at the bus stop until they can see if the bus has enough room for their child(ren).

Ferries

Ferry timetables are back to normal for all AT services.

How do I know if my AT HOP card is registered?

When tagging on or off, listen for the beeps that will indicate if your AT HOP card is registered or not. If you hear three beeps, this means your card is not registered. If you hear one or two beeps, you’ll know your card is already registered. This new feature goes live today.

To register your AT HOP card, follow these simple steps. Watch the video linked below to find out more.

Update your AT HOP card contact details

Your AT HOP card makes contact tracing easier. And having an up-to-date contact phone number will make contact tracing faster.

If you haven’t already, now is a great time to check if your contact details are up to date. Simply go to at.govt.nz and log in.

Use of QR codes

From Friday 4 September, you’ll find QR codes on all buses, trains, and ferries. To help things go smoothly for everyone, please have the Ministry of Health’s NZ COVID Tracer app open and ready to scan when you are on the bus, train, or ferry.

Real-time updates with AT Mobile

Don’t forget, the AT Mobile app gives you the location of your bus and train updates in real-time. It also gives you an indication of how many passengers are on board, so you know in advance if physical distancing is possible or whether you may need to wait for the next service.

Cleaning our fleet

The safety of our customers and workers is a priority, so we’re making sure all public transport is cleaned regularly. We’ve continued with spot check and antimicrobial cleaning. You’ll find hand sanitiser stations at many locations, and we encourage you to use them.

Out and about in your neighbourhood

It’s incredible to see the number of people who have enjoyed walking and cycling in their neighbourhood. With Spring around the corner, why not consider taking it one step further and walk or cycle to work. Our website has all the information you need to plan your commute, view maps, or watch how-to videos.

Aucklanders have embraced the chance to do their bit and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Thanks for your understanding and patience. We look forward to seeing you soon.

For the latest information about COVID-19, visit the Government’s website.