What are Auckland’s least & most-used stations?
Geoff Marshall has long had all the fun finding out which are the UK’s least-used stations, now it’s Auckland’s turn.
In the last 12 months Aucklanders have experienced rail disruptions, bus cancellations, and ferries without skippers but how has this fared for the transport network and how has it impacted passenger numbers?
The data provided by Auckland Transport looks at boardings & alightings for the period from 1st August 2022 to 31st July 2023 for passengers using HOP cards, this data does not include cash fares.
Officially Pukekohe takes the title of the least-used station for this period with only 9,470 passengers using this station, Pukekohe station closed for rebuild and track electrification works on 13th August 2022 and is expected to reopen sometime in late 2024.
Looking at a full year of HOP data Te Papapa technically takes out the title of least-used train station in Auckland with 55,879 people utilising the station, the data shows people were still trying to use the station while it was closed during Stage 1 of the Rail Network Rebuild.
Taking out the title of the least used station with a full year of actual use and no long-term closures is Te Mahia which saw 77,986 people using the station.
On the other end of the scale, Auckland’s most popular station is… Britomart* which saw 7,364,990 passengers through the station’s turnstiles followed by Newmarket with 1,888,514 passengers then New Llynn with 1,050,083.
Taking a quick trip across the Waitematā Harbour we find out who takes out the least-used ferry stop category (The data does not include the Waiheke ferry).
In a location with killer views but lacking a killer service is Te Onewa / Northcote Point which felt the lack of services and only saw 5,481 passengers, In second to last is Beach Haven seeing 14,189 passengers, in third to last is Gulf Harbour with 55,164 trips.
Looking to the popularity ranks for ferry stops Devonport** takes the cake for most popular ferry stop seeing a whopping 1,000,056 trips across the Waitematā, followed by Downtown** with 509,235 trips then the Half Moon Bay** with 217,886.
After the trip over the shore it’s time to jump on board a bus to get off at the least-used bus stop.
Due to the sheer scale of data for bus stops this data has been split into the most and least popular stops for boardings and alightings (The data only uses stops with publicly accessible services.)
Taking out a shared last place with a massive total of 0 boardings between 1st August 2022 to 31st July 2023 are stops 4871 - 759 Dairy Flat Highway & 2812 - Pukeoware Road.
Sharing second to last place, split between 8 stops that all saw just 1 person board are stops 2412 - Kahu Street, 2546 - Oakland Road, 2802 - Urquhart Road, 2809 - Karaka North Road, 4566 - Silverdale Centre, 4914 - Goodland Drive, 5164 - 630 South Titirangi Road & 5977 - Soldiers Memorial Church.
Third to last place is also a split between 4 stops with each stop only seeing 2 people board buses from these stops, 3969 - Beach Road, 3971 - Duke Street, 5970 - 36 Otitori Bay Road & 7048 - Fort Street.
The busiest bus stop for boarding in Auckland is 1002 Stop A Lower Albert*** seeing 757,247 jumping on board to travel over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
In second place is 4222 Stop A Constellation with 636,458 HOP passengers boarding here, in third is 7036 Fanshawe Street/Victoria Park seeing 569,046 jump on board.
Looking to alightings the quietest stops are 4587 - Huapai Domain & 4844 - Opposite 883 Dairy Flat Highway tied at 0 alightings
Then followed by 2547 - Oakland Road, 2814 - Shakespeare Road, 2818 - Hamilton Drive, 2819 - Smeaton Road, 7755 - Lucerne Road & 8989 - Kennedy Point Road with only 1 passenger alighting at each stop,
Another tie for third quietest stops is 5023 - 25 Atkinson Road & 5153 - 615 South Titirangi Road both seeing 3 passengers alight.
Taking a trip to the other end of the scale Auckland’s busiest bus stop is Stop C at Albany Bus Station seeing 1,106,900 passengers alight
Followed not far behind by Stop E at Auckland Universities with 989,079 then Stop B on Lower Albert seeing 982,378 passengers alight.
For those that wish to have a look through the data, it can be found here.