Same route, different buses

Public bus services in New Plymouth will take on a different look from the end of June as a new Taranaki Regional Council contract takes effect.

 

Tranzit Coachlines will operate bus services in New Plymouth, Oakura, Bell Block and Waitara under the City Link banner from 1 July. Routes and fares will remain unchanged and timetables will initially be the same. The only difference will be Tranzit’s white and blue City Link buses.

 

The contract was awarded after a two-year trial of expanded bus services during which much was learned, says the Council’s Director-Operations, Rob Phillips.

 

As a result of feedback during the trial, new early morning and late afternoon commuter services will be introduced later in the year.

 

“In setting up the new commuter services, we’ll be guided by comments passengers made during the trial and also by suggestions we received during a public survey in April this year. And given the way fuel prices are rising, we’re sure there’ll be a great deal of interest.

 

“Convenient new fare-paying technology involving the use of smart cards is also being investigated.”

 

Tranzit Coachlines is also taking over eight school bus services. Again, routes, fares and timetables will remain unchanged.

 

From 1 July, Tranzit’s school bus runs will include:

 

* Route 2 (Waitara-NP-Waitara)
* Route 8 (NP-Bell Block)
* Route 9 (Oakura-NP-Oakura)
* Route 10 (Omata-NP-Omata)
* Route 11 (Westown-Spotswood)
* Route 12 (Bell Block-NP-Bell Block)
* Route 21 (Bell Block-NP-Bell Block)
* Route 23 (Waitara-NP-Waitara)

 

Mr Phillips says the contract was awarded after a competitive tendering process that weighed up quality of service as well as cost.

 

“We needed a contract that would let us maintain or improve existing services, hold fares and keep ratepayer cost to a minimum. Our contract with Tranzit not only lets us do this, but gives us budgetary leeway to introduce the new commuter services.”

 

City Link will be supported from 1 July by a new website, www.taranakibus.info, and a toll-free help line, 0800 872 287.