Weekly Review No.34
This week, Team Biggles prepares for the Scooter Safari in a miniature Metro Canterbury bus, Free travel begins for dogs to Great Barrier Island and Island Direct gets a winter timetable.
Keep yourself informed by following our Twitter/X for real-time transport news updates, if you’ve happened to miss anything from the past week, don't worry, we've got you covered – catch up with the Weekly Review below.
Shaun Baker from Multimodal Adventure writes: Why Te Huia needs to keep chugging along and why we need to continue reviving inter-regional rail in Aotearoa.
Auckland Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee received two novel public submissions on Thursday which could dramatically change how people commute in the city.
David Allen donated the sign board from the old Foxton Railway Station to the Foxton Historical Society and tells the story of how his family came to own it.
An Auckland Transport spokesperson has confirmed to NZ Transit Buzz that they are working with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to deliver 'bus priority for customers using the WX1 service at Fred Taylor Drive and the Westgate citybound on-ramp' starting with an AM peak-only bus lane provided on the on-ramp.
They are also looking at Newton Rd on and off-ramps as well as other pain points.
Taranaki Public Transport is launching the Waitara Express (Route 19) on 20 May.
A miniature Metro Canterbury bus is taking part in the 250-kilometre Scooter Safari from Christchurch to Hokitika, team Biggles features Biggles, Boris, Pipi and rider Jim Lilley, together, they’re raising funds for the Cancer Society.
Wellingtonians now have two more weeks to submit feedback on a proposal to build a new electric bus depot in Lyall Bay after an error caused all feedback forms before 17 April to be deleted.
Greater Wellington is backing Wellington City Council to press on with vital bus priority work on the Golden Mile and the development of a second public transport corridor along the harbour quays.
Transport planning is a man’s world and it’s time women were at the table, says Auckland councillor Angela Dalton.
With bus passenger numbers on the rise, Greater Wellington Regional Council says another route through the central city is now a matter of urgency.
From May 10 travel for dogs to and from the Great Barrier Island will be free on SeaLink services, passengers will still need to let SeaLink's customer care team know if they are travelling with a dog.
The viability of the Picton to Christchurch rail line could be negatively affected without rail-enabled ferries across Cook Strait, according to a recently released briefing from KiwiRail to ministers.
After Auckland Transport rolled out New Zealand Sign Language communications at Waitematā (Britomart) station, NZ Transit Buzz captured a video of the NZSL communications in action.
The Inter-Island Resilient Connection (iReX) project to build new ferries and redevelop the ports would not have broken even, even after three decades, while the Transport Ministry has questioned whether KiwiRail is capable of continuing to run the service.
Eke Panuku are using the MV Hogwash owned by Red Boats as the ferry operating between Te Wero Island and Karanga Plaza while the Wynyard Crossing bridge is out of action due to maintenance works.
Waikato District Council has joined the chorus of people and groups urging central government to continue funding Te Huia.
Delays in the decommissioning of a dangerous rock quarry near Greymouth pose a risk to the TranzAlpine train, but there is no quick fix on the cards.
Island Direct has rolled out a winter timetable with modified evening services, and consistent timings throughout the week, including weekends. This updated schedule took effect on May 13th.
Students are standing up on buses for more than an hour on State Highway 2 while travelling to and from school due to overcrowding issues, according to concerned parents.
At Pukekohe Station new protective screens are being installed, platform fit-out works continue, seating has been installed and a roof is being constructed along the existing ramp on Station Road.
Scott Pilkington recorded a brief video tour of Eke Panuku’s trail ferry between Te Wero Island and Karanga Plaza, the ferry was in operation over the past weekend as a trial to gather information to see if the service is viable long-term.
KiwiRail and Greater Wellington Regional Council are taking a two phased approach to fix carriage vibration issues in the Wairarapa, following the completion of an independent investigation.
Another four bus stops in Nelson will receive bus shelters.
Shelters will be installed at:
104 Nayland Road
74 Westbrook Terrace
Tāhunanui Interchange on Muritai Street (a slimline shelter on each side of the road)
City Rail Link has tested the lights on the façade of the new Te Waihorotiu Station building.
KiwiRail is promising to move as quickly as possible to resolve track vibration issues for Wairarapa rail commuters, as people have faced months of delays and disruptions.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has announced that public transport will be a focus when councillors consider his final proposal for the council’s Long-term Plan this week.
A petition calling on the Government to fund the Te Huia rail service past the end of June has reached more than a thousand signatures in its first week.
In terms of total emissions, it’s far better to take diesel buses off the road and replace them with electric buses, a Waka Kotahi study has found.
City Rail Link has installed an in-situ mock-up of the feature ceiling rods at Te Waihorotiu Station, when completed this ceiling will have over 4,000 suspended rods, the rods are made up of two colours.
They will create a rippled lighting effect that mimics water, referencing the stems of harakeke (flax) and the Waihorotiu stream that used to flow openly through the city, the design was a collaboration between the Link Alliance design team and mana whenua artist Graham Tipene.
Kayne Baas has been appointed as the new Executive General Manager of Electrification to oversee Kinetic’s Zero Emissions program.
Auckland Transport has released a short video on YouTube explaining the benefits of the new City Rail Link tunnels and the wider benefits for across the network.
Enrolled in Fareshare since 2020, Genesis Energy continues to see high staff engagement, with 68% using public transport or active modes for their daily commute.
The bus stop on Wallace Street in Motueka has seen an upgrade with a shelter recycled from Queen Street in Richmond, the shelter was pulled down and put into storage a few years ago when bus stops in Richmond were reconfigured.
Auckland's first electric ferry could be in the water for testing late this year.
Metlink advised passengers there may be some off-peak disruption to bus services between 10am-1pm on Thursday 16 May, as drivers attend their regular Tramways Union meeting, Affected routes included: 1, 7, 17, 19, 23, 24, 25, 27, and 29.
Having first asked to be part of the Auckland Network Timetable Committee (ANTC) three years ago, Waikato Regional Council has finally been invited to join.
The trial of Route 87 Southbridge to Lincoln will finish at the end of June, due to continued low patronage, Its last day of service will be 27 June 2024.
A new 10-year budget for Auckland has dropped funding for the fourth and final part of the up to $1.4 billion dollar Eastern Busway, partly because the Government ditched the regional fuel tax.
To celebrate Youth Week young people aged 12-24 can get free bus travel from 20 - 25 May on CityLink services, passengers can download a ticket here, or grab a ticket from the posters on the buses or at the Rose Street bus station.
Investing in regional rail could create affordable and sustainable travel solutions in light of the latest surge in the price of domestic airfares, according to rail proponents.
A $145 million finance deal is helping to secure a new mode of transport, seagliders, which promises to reduce the trip between Whangārei and Auckland to just 35 minutes.
The future of the Te Huia passenger rail service hangs in the balance on Thursday as the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi board meets to decide on future funding beyond June 2024, an announcement on the board’s decision is expected next week.
A major issue with the batteries for Auckland’s first two electric ferries, means their delivery date has slipped about six months to the second half of next year.
The government must continue to fund the Te Huia service between Hamilton and Auckland and politicians have been told by the community through a 4000+ signature petition that is growing and at a crowded public meeting in Hamilton that they want the service.
Eke Panuku has announced their ferry trial will continue this coming Saturday (18 May) and next Saturday and Sunday (25 and 26 May), the ferry will operate between 8 am - 5.30 pm.
Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) has agreed to adopt weekly and daily fare caps and integrated ticketing, this will take effect from the end of next year once the National Ticketing Solution reaches Wellington.
At the same meeting, GWRC agreed after Midnight bus services would eventually be replaced by services added to the regular Metlink bus routes with operating hours extended earlier in the morning and later at night.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme.
Auckland Transport is pushing back against reporting by the Times that it says doesn’t explain why it decided to have the Eastern Busway run through Burswood.