South Aucklanders will get more bus services when new contracts, signed on 23 February, come into effect later this year.
The new contracts, between Auckland Transport and a number of bus companies, will also be delivered for $3.1 million less cost.
In addition a new fleet of state-of-the-art, low-emission buses, and new standards of service, will be introduced.
There was a lot of competition for the new contracts which cover eight different clusters of routes.
The contract was signed by Auckland Transport Chief Executive, David Warburton, and the successful bidders, Ritchies Transport Holdings/Murphy’s in a joint venture, Howick and Eastern Buses Ltd and Go Bus Transport Ltd.
They are the first to be signed in Auckland under the Government’s Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM).
Dr David Warburton (seated left) CEO and Dr Lester Levy (seated right) Chairman of Auckland Transport sign the contracts watched by Calum Haslop (standing left) Managing Director of Go Bus, Sheryll Otway, Managing Director of Howick and Eastern and Andrew Ritchie, Director of Ritchies.
Go Bus, a company owned by Ngai Tahu and Tainui, has secured just over half the new routes. A new player in the Auckland urban bus market, Go Bus operates urban services nationally. Ritchies/Murphy’s has secured a further 40 per cent, with Howick and Eastern operating the remaining five per cent of routes.
Bus customers will see a 21 per cent increase in hours of operation and a 15 per cent increase in kilometres covered by the services.
Despite being provided by different companies, all buses will be presented in the AT Metro livery to ensure a uniform appearance and consistent customer experience. It will also help minimise confusion among unfamiliar passengers, about whether or not they are catching the right bus.
Read more at Auckland Transport.
