NZ Bus $14.8m contract includes electrics

Infratil-owned NZ Bus has been awarded a new $14.8 million contract for services in the western Bay of Plenty which includes electric fleet.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council announced the deal on Monday which will replace current contracts worth around $12.8m held by Go Bus, Reesby Rotorua Ltd, Bethlehem Coachlines and Uzabus which expire in December this year.

The new Bayhopper network will feature redesigned routes, new interchanges, extended operating hours and more frequent services with a fleet of low-emission vehicles including five state-of-the-art electric buses.

All buses will have bike racks and customers will have access to real time journey information and bus tracking.

Regional Council Public Transport Committee chairman Lyall Thurston says the tender process was highly competitive for the nine-year contract that will enhance public transport in Tauranga.

“All of the proposals were strong and council acknowledges the time and effort put into them. Ultimately NZ Bus presented the best combination of price and quality for Tauranga ratepayers. The procurement team were particularly taken with the increased driver pay offered by NZ Bus,” Thurston says.

NZ Bus, the country’s largest public transport provider, also hold contracts with Auckland Transport and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Last year the company lost many of its contacts in the Wellington region to Masterton-based Tranzit Group.

From 2019, NZ Bus will own and operate a fleet of over 700 buses from 12 depots and employ approximately 1,400 people.