Patronage on Auckland's public transport network has reached new heights, topping 78 million trips in the past year.
Commuters wait to board a south-bound train. Photo: RNZ / Todd Niall
Auckland Transport's chair Lester Levy said rail patronage had broken the $13 million mark in the 12 months to April, with March being nearly 30 percent higher than a year earlier.
Dr Levy said the growth should see rail numbers hit the key 20 million target in 2017, ahead of a 2020 target set by the Government.
The Government has said it would only consider bringing forward the 2020 start of the City Rail Link tunnel if the 20 million target is reached, along with another more difficult target for CBD employment.
Dr Levy said bus patronage was also at record levels, with March being more than eight percent higher than a year earlier.