Auckland Transport is continually striving to improve services for people with access challenges and those with limited mobility. Through guidance from the Transport Accessiblity Advisory Group (TAAG) we hope to make using public transport in Auckland a positive experience.

Be. Accessible Auckland City Map

Many public transport vehicles in Auckland are able to cater for those with access challenges; however it is advised to contact your bus, train or ferry operator to check before you travel. The contact details for each operator are listed below.

All bus services welcome passengers accompanied by service dogs or disability assist dogs.

Around 55% of Auckland buses have super low floors and the ability to kneel to meet the curb, or have wheelchair ramps fitted to allow easy access for wheelchair users.  New buses are being introduced regularly to increase the number of wheelchair access buses in service.

To ensure that there will be a wheelchair access bus on your bus route at the time you wish to travel, we recommend you contact the operator the day before you travel. Click here for a list of contact numbers.

For guidance only:  Wheelchairs and some mobility scooters can be carried on a bus subject to the following restrictions:

• Maximum length:           1200mm
• Maximum width:             700mm
• Maximum weight:           240kg  (combined weight of wheelchair and user)

Please note: for safety reasons pushchairs may be required to be folded down before boarding to ensure they can be safely stowed. For space reasons, buses are unable to carry large mobility scooters or some larger style pushchairs and the measurements above should be used for guidance only.

The mobility devices described above are deemed to be for disabled passengers and exclude personal motorised mobility devices, such as Segways, which may not be carried on passenger services.

A row of seats towards the front of most buses is identified as especially available for the elderly or those with access challenges. Please help us make these passengers' journey easier by allowing them to sit in these seats.

Bus Operator Contact Details

Waka Pacific/North Star/GO WEST/Metrolink

Passenger  assistance (to confirm wheelchair access for a specific trip): 09 373 9100
Lost property: 09 373 9118 - press option 2
After hours emergencies: 09 309 6269

Ritchies Transport
West Auckland: 09 833 6053
North Shore: 09 415 9138

Howick & Eastern Buses Ltd
09 273 3660

Birkenhead Transport
09 483 9119

Urban Express
09 620 5490

Waiheke Island Buses
09 372 8823

Tranzit
09 275 6981

Services such as b.line services starting with 25, 26 or 27 and the 858 North Shore Hospital service use easily accessible buses that kneel on request. These buses can expel air out of their suspension on one side to reduce the step height. To get a bus to kneel, simply ask the bus driver.

Services such as the 283 Hospitals bus, 380 Airporter, 007, Northern Express and all LINK Services are operated by Wheelchair Accessible Buses which are specially designed to accommodate wheelchairs. Please check with your service operator to confirm your wheelchair meets size and weight requirements.

Improvements to our bus services are always being made, with recent examples including on-request audio announcements (by pushing the yellow button) and Braille signage at bus stops with Real Time signs. New signage is also being installed with larger icons and fonts for those with visual impairments.

All train services welcome passengers accompanied by service dogs or disability assist dogs.

All train services are equipped with wheelchair ramps and wheelchairs may be carried at any time. Some types of small battery powered mobility scooters may also be carried in off-peak times. 

Mobility scooters and wheelchairs can be carried on the Auckland rail network, subject to the following restrictions:

• Maximum length:            1350mm
• Maximum width:              650mm
• Maximum laden weight: 200kg

These dimensions and weights are necessary to enable safe negotiation of the loading ramp.

The mobility devices described above are deemed to be for disabled passengers and exclude personal motorised mobility devices, such as Segways, which may not be carried on passenger services.

If you require assistance boarding the train or travelling on the train, please ask either the on-board or platform staff.

Train Operator Contact Details

Veolia Transport
09 969 7777
Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm

Tranz Scenic - Long distance trains 
0800 872467

Wheelchairs can be taken aboard most ferries, please check with the ferry operator before travelling. If you require assistance boarding the ferry from a suitable waiting point, please contact the ferry operator to arrange this in advance. If you require assistance while travelling on the ferry, please ask the on-board crew.

Ferry Operator Contact Details

Fullers Ferries
09 367 9111

360 Discovery
09 307 8005

Pine Harbour Ferry
09 536 4720

West Harbour Ferry
09 416 6344 

SeaLink  - For Waiheke and Great Barrier Island car ferry services
09 300 5900 or 0800 732 5465

Concessionary fares are available to passengers who hold one of the following photo ID cards:

• Auckland Transport Total Mobility ID card
• Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind  ID card

The concession allows the above card holders to purchase a one way child fare (cash, stored value or 10-ride tickets) at any time.

The ID card must be shown when the ticket is issued and when boarding the bus, train or ferry.

This discount does NOT apply to the Inner LINK, NITERIDER, Airbus Express buses and some ferry services.

The Total Mobility scheme is to assist eligible people with impairments to access appropriate transport.

This assistance is provided to eligible, registered people in the form of subsidised door-to-door transport services wherever scheme transport providers, which are generally taxis, operate.

The eligibility assessment identifies whether a person has an impairment that prevents him/her undertaking any one or more of the following components of a journey unaccompanied, on a bus, train or ferry, in a safe and dignified manner:

• Getting to the place from where the transport departs
• Getting onto the transport
• Riding securely
• Getting off the transport
• Getting to the final destination point

For Registration and Eligibility Guidelines please click here. An accessible Word version of the Registration and Eligibility Guidelines is available on request by emailing to: maxxenquiry@maxx.co.nz

Individuals who may be eligible can also contact MAXX Contact Centre on 09 366 6400 for further information.

For the conditions of use of the Total Mobility scheme, please click here. An audio version of the Total Mobility scheme is available from the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Telephone Information Service, which is for Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind members only.

For a list of Auckland's approved Total Mobility transport operators, please click here. An audio version of Auckland's approved Total Mobility transport operators is available from the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Telephone Information Service, which is for Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind members only.

For the latest Total Mobility news click here (PDF 576KB)

By registering you will receive regular email updates on the latest developments for making public transport in Auckland more accessible. Registering as a MAXX Accessible VIP also gives you call priority when you call the MAXX call centre. 

To register to become a MAXX Accessible VIP, please click here to receive regular email updates.