Frustrated commuters give up and take taxis to work on the first Monday of Wellington's new bus network.

Some Wellington commuters are complaining the neon blue lighting in the city's new fleet of buses is causing passenger headaches.

The blue lights introduced to "minimise reflection" on the driver's front windscreen have been criticised for being "too aggressive" and being "unhealthy".

Metlink said the lights were not installed for aesthetics, but instead had an "operational purpose".

COLLETTE DEVLIN/STUFF The blue lights complaint was the latest in a long line of issues raised by passengers about the performance of the new bus network.

When asked why the lights were in place upstairs, Metlink explained on Twitter on Monday night it was "due to the way the bus was designed".

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KEVIN STENT/STUFF Metlink says the lighting is in place to ensure drivers' vision was not limited by reflection inside the bus.

It eventually elaborated further on Tuesday, saying the lighting was to reduce reflection inside the bus to ensure drivers' vision was not impeded.

"Like some other changes around the bus network, there are people in favour and others against. Some customers say it adds a distinctive look to the new buses."

On Tuesday afternoon, WorkSafe was asked who bus passengers should complain to about the lighting.

KEVIN STENT/STUFF A large crowd of people wait for buses at a stop on Willis St on Tuesday evening.

The response did nothing to quell questions from other social media users - one wondering whether her mode of transport was "a disco bus".

The lights complaint was the latest in a long line of issues raised by passengers about the performance of the new bus network introduced on Sunday.

Greater Wellington Regional Council told Stuff the network performed far better on Tuesday compared to its first major test during Monday morning's peak-hour commute.

But some Wellingtonians would beg to differ.

Regional councillor Daran Ponter acknowledged there were a couple of cancelled and late services on Tuesday, but it was an improvement on Monday.

"There were no dropped services today across the network and there was a full complement of staff, which made a big improvement."

Monday's commute resulted in a flood of complaints from dissatisfied peak-hour travellers about missed connections, buses that failed to show, long waits for passengers, overcrowded buses and some drivers who appeared not to know their new routes.

One commuter posted on Monday night that her driver had driven up the Ngaio Gorge instead of Ngauranga Gorge, which is about 8km further north.

She expressed concern for her safety as the top of the double-decker bus she was travelling on scraped power lines in the Ngaio Gorge.

There was more social media venting on Tuesday morning, as some commuters took to Twitter to express frustration at buses showing up late, buses not showing up at all, and buses not following correct routes.

A regional council spokesman said there were still a few things to be ironed out, but that was to be expected.

Ponter said things had largely improved after a day of familiarisation for many Wellingtonians with the network changes that involved an overhaul of the city's routes, timetables and fares.

"They may not accept it but people are becoming more familiar with the new route and timetables and asking less questions than yesterday."

There was a large capacity of "ambussadors" on the streets and on busses to assist passengers, he said.

Based on the morning experience he was not expecting big issues with the evening run.

ROBERT KITCHIN/STUFF Regional councillor Daran Ponter said people were becoming more familiar with the new route and timetables and asking fewer questions than on Monday.

Metlink confirmed one driver had driven up Ngaio Gorge instead of Ngauranga Gorge, and that the former was not an approved double-decker route.

"We've instructed the operator to urgently advise drivers to stay off that road."

The incident was the only one involving power lines being hit, Metlink said.

"We've checked hundreds of kilometres of Wellington roads over the last year for possible hazards as part of the preparation for the new network. The only wire we had an issue with was a fibre TV cable. There is no risk to bus passengers from fibre cables."

Metlink also confirmed it was aware of some drivers who had been brought in from outside Wellington to help with the new network. They were Tranzit employees on permanent or short-term contracts, it said.