Given that there is no comparable place in the world successfully running integrated ticketing with such a diverse and small market as New Zealand. Is it time to accept that we need a single payment and ticketing method country-wide which is not market driven?
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centralise it all. Cap $2 peak journeys & make off-peak $0 Free.
Stimulate & cause maximised utilisation - then we will know where and what to invest in either the gaps, or under-capacity. 5-10yrs centralised, ops local then regionalise again in 2030 once optimised
Not having integrated ticketing means rider behaviour will be vastly different to when there is. c.f the mess that is Wellington Bus routes - no Train transfers etc.