Weekly Review No.114
Inside this edition: Christchurch’s newest bus levels up, more Dunedin buses to get electrified and AT to undertake network-wide CRL timetable testing.
Kia ora and welcome to the first Weekly Review for 2026. You may notice things look a bit different around here this year. Over the holidays, we got out a tin of paint and refreshed NZ Transit Buzz for 2026, but don’t fret, NZ Transit Buzz is still your transit news hub. We are on X, BlueSky and Instagram @NZTransitBuzz. So give us a follow wherever you are.
The trust that will upgrade the historic Mataura Railway Station may have a new issue to deal with – finding contractors that are able to carry out the job.
A group of Southland train enthusiasts are on a mission to restore a 19th century locomotive known as the lifeblood of the New Zealand railways.
It’s an idea that’s endured for almost a century. Since at least 1931 moving the South Island inter-island ferry port from Picton to Clifford Bay has been periodically floated and rejected.
A company proposing to move inter-island ferry services to Clifford Bay says demolishing an old bridge in Picton does not cement the port town as the future of New Zealand’s ferries.
Canterbury’s pet-friendly bus policy has passed its first test with flying colours. At least 220 pets have travelled on public transport since its introduction on December 2 without a single complaint from passengers or drivers.
37 new electric buses will be on the road in Dunedin from October this year as part of two new contracts awarded by Otago Regional Council to Go Bus Transport.
37 new electric buses will be introduced during the first year of the contract. This means 77% of the Dunedin buses (61 out of 79) will be electric.
All Dunedin buses are expected to be electric by 2028.
Larger and more comfy buses on Route 1 (Palmerston - City)
More peak trips on Route 18 (Portobello - City)
It was full steam ahead as passengers boarded the Mainlander train’s sell-out inaugural journey between Christchurch and Invercargill.
Uzabus welcomed the delivery of 13 new LDV vans as part of a national rollout taking place over the next few months. The vans will operate new specialised school transport assistance runs in Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Te Puke and have tracking systems, cameras, SOS buttons and accessibility equipment.
Tickets for the Pearsons Coachlines ‘Town Bus’ will increase to $720pp per year. The bus is for students trying to access schools within Oamaru.
The Omnibus Society have completed repairs on their containers and improved the coverings on AEC Regal after recent damaging winds. The group is also recruiting new members, a membership form can be requested by emailing omnibussocietynz@gmail.com.
Chris McAlpine, a much-loved school bus and cruise ship tour driver, known affectionately as ‘Koro Fridge’’, has found himself featured in a new colouring book celebrating Tauranga landmarks and community characters.
The Campaign for Better Transport and Public Transport Users Association say it’s time for Government bodies to take the personal safety of public transport passengers and staff seriously.
Metro Canterbury’s new electric double-decker bus has been wrapped in the Metro livery and issued an operator fleet number (GB3955). Drivers are currently undertaking familiarisation training on the bus.
Chair of the Canterbury Regional Council Deon Swiggs has also shared photos of the new electric double-decker bus. Deon also announced the bus is likely to be trialled first on route 7 to start with.
We kicked off Wednesday with a look back at the stories you may have missed over the summer.
After more than 20 years of skippering the Diamond Harbour Ferry, Johnny Rock will end his time moving passengers across the harbour.
Steam Incorporated has shared photos from the inaugural Mainlander Train service. Steam Incorporated’s DC 4375 led the train services, and it was DC 4375’s first trip south of Rolleston.
Cyclists on Wednesday morning’s Tour of Southland stage will also be taking on the Kingston Flyer vintage steam train.
More than 3300 tickets totalling nearly $488,000 were issued for illegal use of bus and cycle lanes across Tauranga last year.
The Orbus Queenstown is relocating to Ground Level, Alta House, Terrace Junction (1092 Frankton Road) from January 26. The existing Terrace Junction office will be closed from 22 January to get the move underway.
Metlink’s routes 29 & 39 will no longer stop outside the New World supermarket in Island Bay from 25 January. Laser measure deflectometer (LMD) testing has revealed this stretch of road to be in notably worse condition compared to surrounding sections. Until the Wellington City Council can repair the road, bus routes will be adjusted to avoid this portion of Derwent Street.
Southland Machine Hire has assisted the Lumsden Heritage Trust in relocating the NZR single man’s hut, donated by the Menlove Family, to a new location for restoration.
Terramotive have delivered a new Yutong D7 to the team at MoaTrek New Zealand Tours.
A new rail safety mural has been completed at the Mount Lebanon Lane level crossing. The mural contains the phrase ‘Stop Look Listen Think’ and was painted to reduce the amount of graffiti in the area and was painted by Kakano Youth Arts Collective.
For two days after Auckland Anniversary, the train network will be closed for the first full trial of the new post-City Rail Link timetable. The test will simulate how AT trains will operate alongside KiwiRail freight trains, Te Huia services and peak and off-peak timetables.
Auckland Transport has compressed months of construction into a two-week closure at Ti Rākau Drive, accelerating progress on the Eastern Busway project while minimising long-term disruption
The Lumsden Heritage Trust are progressing work on establishing a track set and undertaking site preparations for their next project, which is set to arrive in March.
Leisure Tours has unveiled a new logo and showcased the logo, which has been applied onto one of their buses. The previous logo had an oval shape and a serif font; the new logo features a koru and a sans-serif font.
There was plenty of excitement at the station on Thursday as a long-distance passenger train arrived in Invercargill, bringing with it travellers, rail enthusiasts, and a good dose of nostalgia.
Leopard Coachlines has taken delivery of a Yutong C10 from Terramotive. The C10 is 10 meter long midsize coach with a single front door.
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Love the comprehensive roundup of NZ transit news. The Dunedin electrification numbers are impresssive - 77% electric by year end is serious commitment. Also really intrigued by the Canterbury pet-friendly bus policy having zero complaints, thats a model other cities should be watching. The CRL timetable testing shutdown will be fascinating to follow.