1 December 2010
Two new bus services for Waipa residents travelling to and from Hamilton will be launched on January 5.
The new services, which use brand new buses, were originally scheduled to start before Christmas. However, the factory in which the buses are being built was badly damaged in the Christchurch earthquake, slightly pushing back the start date.
Waipa District Council's manager, road corridor Dawn Inglis said passengers travelling between Te Awamutu and Hamilton will soon have a choice of up to eight return trips each week day. An extension service to Kihikihi will continue to operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays, two trips per day.
Passengers travelling between between Cambridge and Hamilton will have a choice of up to six return trips each week.
Both services will have three return trips on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (except Christmas day).
“Four brand new state-of-the-art buses will be used for the seven-day-a-week operations. Two on each route. The buses will be very clearly identified with Cambridge and Te Awamutu,” Mrs Inglis said.
A free wireless internet service (wi-fi), a first for the Waikato, will be available on the buses by the end of January. The buses are fully air-conditioned with low floors to make boarding and disembarking easier. They conform to the latest engine emission standards and will be easy to use for passengers in wheelchairs, with prams or carrying extra luggage.
Travellers will also be able to use the Busit Smartcard on the route, a ‘stored value’ card that bus users can load with credit for future bus travel. Mrs Inglis said the Busit card had been in use on Hamilton City services for some time, and was a convenient way for regular bus users to purchase their bus fare.
“The ticketing machine reads the Smartcard automatically. Passengers don’t need to ‘swipe it’ or even take it out of their wallet.”
A comprehensive range of fare types will be available, ranging from one-way to return trips and concession prices for regular users. Senior citizens will be able to use their Super Gold Cards on the new service.
A new printed timetable for the service will be available in mid-December from local i-Sites, Citizens’ Advice Bureaus and Council offices.
It would also be available online at www.busit.co.nz. Click on the regional tab at the top of the page to find the timetable for route number 24 -Te Awamutu, and route number 20 - Leamington/Cambridge.
Specific questions about the new routes could also be directed to a free phone number, 0800 4busline (0800 4 2875463).
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Humm
Ph: 07 872 0062 or 027 532 1760
Email: Jacqui.humm@waipadc.govt.nz
Please note that information can also be found on www.busit.co.nz