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2016 Alexander Dennis in Wellington 10/2/2016
CAPITAL'S COMMUTERS TEST DOUBLE-DECKERS
A double-decker bus has opened its doors for rides in the capital, as the Greater Wellington Regional Council starts its plan to introduce a fleet of 50 in two years' time.
A double-decker bus gave demonstration rides through town in Wellington on Wednesday, 10 February 2016, as part of the Greater Wellington Regional Council's plan to introduce a fleet of 50 buses by 2018. This bus is part of Auckland's fleet.
The double-deckers will help replace the city's trolleybuses, which are being phased out as part of the council's plan for managing traffic congestion.
Public transport spokesperson Paul Swain said the move was also about getting people out of cars.
"People have told us that if they're going to do that, the service needs to be reliable, it needs to be affordable and the journey time needs to be competitive with the car, and this is where the double-decker comes in for us."
Wellington's demonstration bus, which was borrowed from Auckland's bus fleet, seats 111 passengers - with 55 of those seats upstairs.
The council hasn't secured a manufacturer for the buses yet but Mr Swain estimated the cost would be in the tens of millions.
"This is a big capital cost, this is the biggest change to the bus fleet and to the bus route in Wellington in decades.
"This is a major step forward for the Wellington region and for public transport."
The change was aimed at reducing traffic in Wellington's most congested areas, however regional council chair Chris Laidlaw said there were some places the buses would not be able to go.
"That's the only difficulty with double-deckers - the Karori tunnel isn't suitable and there may be one or two other areas where they can't go, but we're not only going to have a fleet of double-deckers, that's why you need the right mix."
The bus' doors were opened to the public from 1-3pm on Wednesday, with commuters making a loop through town passing through Lambton Quay.
The new buses were expected to start operating from January 2018.
“Double decker buses will be part of the region’s bus fleet within the next two years,” says Paul Swain, Greater Wellington Regional Council’s public transport portfolio leader. “As well as being fun and different to travel in, double decker buses will reduce bus congestion and speed up travel times. They’ll be a crucial key to making bus travel in Wellington more enjoyable and reliable.”
The Regional Council is today hosting a demonstration of a new double decker bus. It has been manufactured in the United Kingdom and assembled by Kiwi Bus Builders in Tauranga.
“This is a great opportunity for people to get on board, free of charge, and experience low emission, modern bus travel. I’d really encourage people to take a ride if they can.”
The bus travelled between Wellington Railway Station (departing Stop C) and Courtenay Place, and stopped at all the stops along the Golden Mile (Lambton Quay) between 1pm-3pm.
CARJAM DETAILS:
Make: 2016 ALEXANDER DENNIS
Model: ENVIRO 500
Colour: Blue
Second Colour: Grey
VIN: SFD66DJR5FGTN4402
Plate: JPH58
Engine No: 22173475
Chassis: TN4402
Seats: 92 (90 passengers)
CC rating: 8,900cc
NZ First Registration: 3 February 2016
Photo by Maarten Holl.
Double decker bus demo.: Paul Swain waxes lyrical about the wonders of double deckers:
2016 Alexander Dennis in Wellington 10/2/2016
CAPITAL'S COMMUTERS TEST DOUBLE-DECKERS
A double-decker bus has opened its doors for rides in the capital, as the Greater Wellington Regional Council starts its plan to introduce a fleet of 50 in two years' time.
A double-decker bus gave demonstration rides through town in Wellington on Wednesday, 10 February 2016, as part of the Greater Wellington Regional Council's plan to introduce a fleet of 50 buses by 2018. This bus is part of Auckland's fleet.
The double-deckers will help replace the city's trolleybuses, which are being phased out as part of the council's plan for managing traffic congestion.
Public transport spokesperson Paul Swain said the move was also about getting people out of cars.
"People have told us that if they're going to do that, the service needs to be reliable, it needs to be affordable and the journey time needs to be competitive with the car, and this is where the double-decker comes in for us."
Wellington's demonstration bus, which was borrowed from Auckland's bus fleet, seats 111 passengers - with 55 of those seats upstairs.
The council hasn't secured a manufacturer for the buses yet but Mr Swain estimated the cost would be in the tens of millions.
"This is a big capital cost, this is the biggest change to the bus fleet and to the bus route in Wellington in decades.
"This is a major step forward for the Wellington region and for public transport."
The change was aimed at reducing traffic in Wellington's most congested areas, however regional council chair Chris Laidlaw said there were some places the buses would not be able to go.
"That's the only difficulty with double-deckers - the Karori tunnel isn't suitable and there may be one or two other areas where they can't go, but we're not only going to have a fleet of double-deckers, that's why you need the right mix."
The bus' doors were opened to the public from 1-3pm on Wednesday, with commuters making a loop through town passing through Lambton Quay.
The new buses were expected to start operating from January 2018.
“Double decker buses will be part of the region’s bus fleet within the next two years,” says Paul Swain, Greater Wellington Regional Council’s public transport portfolio leader. “As well as being fun and different to travel in, double decker buses will reduce bus congestion and speed up travel times. They’ll be a crucial key to making bus travel in Wellington more enjoyable and reliable.”
The Regional Council is today hosting a demonstration of a new double decker bus. It has been manufactured in the United Kingdom and assembled by Kiwi Bus Builders in Tauranga.
“This is a great opportunity for people to get on board, free of charge, and experience low emission, modern bus travel. I’d really encourage people to take a ride if they can.”
The bus travelled between Wellington Railway Station (departing Stop C) and Courtenay Place, and stopped at all the stops along the Golden Mile (Lambton Quay) between 1pm-3pm.
CARJAM DETAILS:
Make: 2016 ALEXANDER DENNIS
Model: ENVIRO 500
Colour: Blue
Second Colour: Grey
VIN: SFD66DJR5FGTN4402
Plate: JPH58
Engine No: 22173475
Chassis: TN4402
Seats: 92 (90 passengers)
CC rating: 8,900cc
NZ First Registration: 3 February 2016
Photo by Maarten Holl.
Double decker bus demo.: Paul Swain waxes lyrical about the wonders of double deckers: