Public transport in Otago
{{Short description|Public transport in Otago, New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Orbus
| logo =
| logo_size =
| image = Dunedinbussy.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| image_caption =
| company_slogan =
| parent = Otago Regional Council
| founded = 1986
| headquarters =
| locale = New Zealand
| service_area = Dunedin, Queenstown
| service_type = Bus
| alliance =
| routes = 20 in Dunedin, 6 in Queenstown
| destinations =
| stops =
| hubs = Dunedin Bus Hub, Great King St; Frankton bus hub, Queenstown
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet =
| ridership = 10,919 (Dunedin, July-December 2023)
6,067 (Queenstown, July-December 2023) [https://www.orc.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/2024/february/bus-use-on-the-rise-in-dunedin-and-queenstown Bus use on the rise in Dunedin and Queenstown]
| fuel_type = Diesel, battery electricity
| operator = Go Bus Transport, Ritchies Transport
| ceo =
| website = [https://www.orc.govt.nz/public-transport/dunedin-buses Dunedin Buses]
}}
The public transport system of Otago centres around the cities of Dunedin and Queenstown, under the brand name Orbus. Public transport in the region is provided using buses and ferries. Despite sharing a name, the systems in Dunedin and Queenstown are isolated from one another.
The Otago Regional Council designs routes and schedules, and contracts operation of bus services to two bus companies, Go Bus Transport and Ritchies Transport. The majority of bus routes in Dunedin normally operate at 30 minute headways, with 8 and 63 operating at 15 minute frequencies. All buses in Queenstown run at 60 minute headways, except for route 1, which operates every 15 minutes. In Dunedin, Services on evenings, weekends and holidays operate at about half the normal weekday frequency and there are no services on late Sunday or holiday evenings, nor on Christmas Day, Good Friday or Easter Sunday.{{Cite web |title=Dunedin Bus Timetables |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/public-transport/dunedin-buses}}{{Cite web |title=Queenstown Bus Timetables |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/public-transport/queenstown-buses-and-ferries}}A local bus museum society operates on two routes on the three non-service days of Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday
Bus fares in both cities are paid for by cash or by the electronic ticketing system Bee Card. The Bee Card replaced GoCards on 1 September 2020.{{Cite web |date=28 August 2020 |title=The Bee Card Launches In Dunedin Next Week {{!}} Scoop News |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2008/S00607/the-bee-card-launches-in-dunedin-next-week.htm |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=www.scoop.co.nz |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521063247/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2008/S00607/the-bee-card-launches-in-dunedin-next-week.htm |url-status=live }} Prior to GoCards, multi-trip paper tickets were used until November 2007.{{cn|date=June 2023|reason=need a source for Queenstown start date too}}
Buses in Otago carried 4,050,282 passengers per year from 2022 to 2023.{{Cite web |orig-date=10 August, 2023 |title=Bus trip numbers continue to rise {{!}} Otago Regional Council |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/2023/august/bus-trip-numbers-continue-to-rise |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=www.orc.govt.nz |language=en}}
Dunedin bus routes
Most routes are cross-city routes via the Dunedin city centre. Longer-distance routes terminate in the centre. Semi-orbital route 15 Ridge Runner links most inner suburbs but avoids the centre. The Mosgiel 77 semi-express service has a branch route 70 connecting at Green Island and a figure-8-shaped 80/81 Mosgiel Loop connecting on Mosgiel's main street, Gordon Rd. Transferring between routes, historically not a feature of Dunedin bus services, is more favourable under the current fare regime.
| class="wikitable" | |||||||
| Route number (or destination number)Destination numbers are being phased out | Outer terminus | via | City bus hub stops (northbound/southbound) | via | Outer terminus | Bus operator | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style='background: #ABDCD4' | | 1 | Palmerston | Waikouaiti, Karitane, Waitati, Dunedin-Waitati Highway | J | – | – | Ritchies |
| style='background: #FFFF00' | | 3 | Ross Creek | Glenleith, George Street | C/H | South Dunedin, Tainui | Ocean Grove | Go Bus |
| style='background: #CCBF34' | | 5/6 | Pine Hill | Gardens, George Street | E/J | Caversham | Lookout Point | Ritchies |
| style='background: #ED1C24' | | 8 | Normanby | Gardens, George Street | D/I | Cargill's Corner, South Dunedin | St Clair | Go Bus |
| style='background: #009E4D' | | 10/11 | Opoho | Gardens, George Street | E/J | South Dunedin, Musselburgh | Shiel Hill | Ritchies |
| style='background: #CFAE78' | | 14 | Port Chalmers (Harrington Street) | Careys Bay, Port Chalmers, Sawyers Bay, Roseneath, St Leonards, Burkes, Ravensbourne, Logan Park, University | B | – | - | Ritchies |
| style='background: #55758D' | | 15 "Ridge Rider" (semi-orbital route) | University (Forth St) | Gardens, North Dunedin, Maori Hill, Roslyn, Mornington, | – | – | South Dunedin (Andersons Bay Rd) | Ritchies |
| style='background: #A1F078' | | 18 | Portobello | Edwards Bay, Turnbulls Bay, Broad Bay, Company Bay, Macandrew Bay, The Cove, Exchange | G | – | – | Ritchies |
| style='background: #EE3E96' | | 19 | Waverley | Musselburgh, South Dunedin, Exchange | A/I | City Rise | Belleknowes | Go Bus |
| style='background: #D48189' | | 33 | Corstorphine | Caversham, Cargill's Corner | C/H | City Rise, Roslyn, Kaikorai | Wakari | Go Bus |
| style='background: #D9581E' | | 37/38 | Concord (38) | Kenmure, Bradford, Kaikorai, Moana Pool | G/A | Otago Museum | University (Forth St) (37) | Ritchies |
| style='background: #65A2A2' | | 44 | St Kilda | Cargill's Corner, Exchange | D/I | Kaikorai | Halfway Bush, New Zealand | Go Bus |
| style='background: #00AEEF' | | 50 | Helensburgh | Balmacewen, Maori Hill, City Rise | C/H | Cargill's Corner, Kew, St Clair Park | Corstorphine | Go Bus |
| style='background: #F391BC' | | 55 | St Kilda | Cargill's Corner, Exchange | D/I | Kaikorai | Brockville | Go Bus |
| style='background: #9DC435' | | 61 | Kenmure | Mornington, Exchange | C | – | – | Go Bus |
| style='background: #B369AB' | | 63 | Balaclava | Mornington, Exchange | A/F | Otago Museum, University | Logan Park | Ritchies |
| style='background: #A1D9F7' | | 70 | Brighton | Ocean View, Waldronville, Abbotsford | – | – | Green Island (transfer to/from route 77) | Go Bus |
| style='background: #F59C00' | | 77 (semi-express) | Mosgiel Centre Street | Gordon Rd, Fairfield, Sunnyvale, Green Island (transfer to/from route 70), Dunedin Southern Motorway, Exchange | F | – | – | Go Bus |
| style='background: #F59C00' | | 78 (express) | Mosgiel terminus | Gordon Rd Dunedin Southern Motorway | F | – | – | Go Bus |
| style='background: #55758D' | | 80 | – | Mosgiel Loop east circuit | – | – | – | Go Bus |
| style='background: #55758D' | | 81' | – | Mosgiel Loop west circuit | – | – | – | Go Bus |
Fares
Fares in Dunedin and Queenstown are paid with either cash or a fare card called the Bee Card. In both cities, cash fares are more expensive than Bee; $4 in Queenstown and $3 in Dunedin. Additionally, fare concessions (reduced fare prices) only apply to Bee cards. All fares in both cities are flat fares, and transfers are free.{{Cite web |title=Fares from 1 July {{!}} Otago Regional Council |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/public-transport/fares |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=www.orc.govt.nz |language=en}}
Bee cards were introduced to Otago buses in September 2020,{{Cite web |title=‘Bee’ ready – the Bee Card is now available in Otago |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/2020/july/bee-ready-the-bee-card-is-now-available-in-otago |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=www.orc.govt.nz |language=en}} and to Queenstown Ferries in 26 October 2022{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=Bee prepared for cheaper ferry trips |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/bee-prepared-cheaper-ferry-trips |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}} following other regional councils who agreed to use it. Bee ended zone-based fares in Dunedin, after consultations with the public.{{Cite web |title=New $2 online bus card - and free until September |url=https://crux.org.nz/crux-news/new-2-bus-card/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Crux |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |last=Houseman |first=Molly |date=2021-08-27 |title=Dunedinites get to keep $2 bus rides - for now |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dunedinites-get-keep-2-bus-rides-now |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}} Queenstown already had flat fares before Bee.{{Cite web |title=ORC to consider interim flat bus fare structure for Dunedin |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/2020/may/orc-to-consider-interim-flat-bus-fare-structure-for-dunedin |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=www.orc.govt.nz |language=en}}
Prior to the Bee Card, Dunedin used GoCards for fare payment.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-29 |title=Tag on, tag off bus system from September |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/tag-tag-bus-system-september |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}
In the future, the National Ticketing Solution is supposed to replace the Bee card in Otago by 2026, as well as all other fare cards in New Zealand.{{Cite web |last=L |first=Matt |date=2022-10-25 |title=A new National Ticketing System |url=https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2022/10/26/a-new-national-ticketing-system/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Greater Auckland |language=en-NZ}}
Organising bus routes in Dunedin
Dunedin's bus network is designed and managed by the Otago Regional Council. Fares are levied to cover about half of operating cost with the balance subsidised by Otago Regional Council ratepayers (about a quarter) and New Zealand Transport Agency (the remaining quarter; funded by fuel tax and road user charges). Buses use the individual companies' livery with Otago Regional Council stickers added. Until 2015, all services operated under the brand Gobus; this ended when a bus company with a similar name began serving the city. The regional council intends to introduce a new brand Orbus to the network[http://business.scoop.co.nz/2017/10/26/new-queenstown-bus-service-identity-unveiled/ New Queenstown bus service identity unveiled] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203013740/http://business.scoop.co.nz/2017/10/26/new-queenstown-bus-service-identity-unveiled/ |date=3 December 2017 }} on Scoop.co.nz website, viewed 2 December 2017 Safety standards are regulated by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). The Dunedin City Council has no administrative role other than as provider of the road infrastructure (with the exception of State Highways, for which NZTA is the provider), street furniture such as signs and seats and regulation of parking at bus stops. However, the city council is involved in discussions with the regional council over taking over the management of public transport.{{cite news |url= http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/174355/councils-talks-buses |title= Councils in talks on buses |work= Otago Daily Times |first= Chris |last= Morris |date= 20 August 2011 |access-date= 30 August 2011 |archive-date= 14 January 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120114045132/http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/174355/councils-talks-buses |url-status= live }}
History of public transport in Otago
The Dunedin City Council operated and managed most public transport until 1986 including the Dunedin cable tramway system (similar to the famous San Francisco cable car system) between 1881 and 1957, electric trams from 1900 to 1956, trolleybuses from 1950 to 1982 and motor buses from 22 April 1925'New Motor Buses' article in Otago Daily Times, 18 April 1925 to 1986. From 1986, management of bus services became the responsibility of the Otago Regional Council. Otago Regional Council allowed any company to bid on routes and services, and Citibus, the city council owned bus company, won many of the routes tendered and had the best quality vehicles, compared to the private operators.{{Cite web |date=2011-04-21 |title=Era ends for Dunedin buses |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/editorial/era-ends-dunedin-buses |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}
Citibus would go on to be privatised in 2011, after Dunedin City Council voted to sell it, with the mayor at the time summarising by saying that it was "hemorrhaging money". There was concern by some critics, like Labour MP Clare Curran, that this move would worsen driver working conditions.{{Cite web |date=2011-04-14 |title=New Zealand Tramways Union concerned about potential sale of Citibus |url=http://www.channel39.co.nz/news/new-zealand-tramways-union-concerned-about-potential-sale-citibus |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Channel 39 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2011-04-20 |title=DCC sells Citibus |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc-sells-citibus |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}
New Zealand Railways (NZR) operated commuter trains from the Dunedin railway station to Port Chalmers and to Wingatui and Mosgiel until 1979 and 1982, respectively. Reintroduction of rail services is suggested from time to timefor example {{cite journal |date= October 2008 |title=Down at the Station |journal=New Zealand Railway Observer |volume=65 |issue=4 |pages=153 |publisher=New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society |location=Wellington |issn=0028-8624 }} NZR, through its Road Services division, from 1985 known as Cityline, also operated motor buses to the suburbs of Warrington, Cherry Farm, Brighton, Outram and Mosgiel until Cityline was privatised in 1991 – the Dunedin fleet was sold to Newtons Coachways. All the above-mentioned train or bus routes except Warrington and Outram continue to be served by the present bus system.
In early times, there were ferries connecting the central city to Port Chalmers and Portobello, but these ceased between the 1930s and 2018 as road connections along the harbour's edge were improved.
Former privately owned public transport operators in Dunedin included Turnbulls (Dunedin to Portobello); Newtons (Dunedin to Waverley), Otago Road Services (Dunedin to Green Island, Abbotsford and Fairfield), all of whom operated services over several decades from the 1950s to the 1980s and 1990s. From the late 1980s onwards, Cesta Travel (later called Southeastern) and Dunedin Passenger Transport operated a wide range of routes on various short-term contracts.
In late January 2020, the Dunedin City Council voted to reduce bus fares while exploring the re-establishment of a commuter rail link between Mosgiel and the Dunedin city centre. This includes allocating $600,000 to bus subsidies.{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Emma |title=DCC votes to reduce bus fares |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dcc-votes-reduce-bus-fares |accessdate=30 January 2020 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=30 January 2020 |archive-date=30 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130031432/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dcc-votes-reduce-bus-fares |url-status=live }}
In July 2023, the Otago Daily Times reported that the Go Bus Transport company would be shifting its bus depot from Princes Street to the former PlaceMakers site on Portsmouth Drive in early 2024.{{cite news |title=Future home for buses |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/future-home-buses |access-date=30 November 2023 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705021832/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/future-home-buses |archive-date=5 July 2023}} Earlier in July 2022, the Dunedin City Council had explored selling the Princes Street bus depot to enable Kāinga Ora to develop housing. In response, Dunedin Tramways Union branch president Alan Savell had defended retaining the bus depot at Princes Street.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Bus depot is in ideal spot, union says |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/bus-depot-ideal-spot-union-says |access-date=30 November 2023 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812172101/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/bus-depot-ideal-spot-union-says |archive-date=12 August 2022}}
In late July 2024, the Otago Daily Times reported that Kāinga Ora had abandoned plans to build an 80-100 room apartment block on the site of the Princes Street bus depot after discovering it sat on contaminated ground.{{cite news |last1=Littlewood |first1=Matthew |title=$240k spent before bus depot plan ditched |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/240k-spent-bus-depot-plan-ditched |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=26 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830120515/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/240k-spent-bus-depot-plan-ditched |archive-date=30 August 2024}}
File:Electric orbussy.jpg battery electric bus leaves the Bus Hub]]
In early February 2024, Ritchies introduced 11 Yutong E10 battery electric buses to its fleet in Dunedin, which were originally planned to enter service in October 2023. Each bus cost between $500,000 and $700 000, and operate on some of the city's steepest routes. There was initially slight concern about how much charging the buses would need, but this concern was eliminated when the buses proved to be able to run all day on a single charge, although Ritchie's says it can charge them midday if needed. Prior to this, for the month of October in 2021 Otago Regional Council trialled an electric bus in Dunedin, to test its abilities on steep terrain and on the motorway.{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Sinead |date=July 20, 2022 |title=Electric buses hitting Dunedin streets in 2023 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/300642043/electric-buses-hitting-dunedin-streets-in-2023}}{{Cite web |date=February 7, 2024 |title=Launch of zero emission buses in Dunedin |url=https://www.ritchies.co.nz/electric-buses-otago}}{{Cite web |last=Ngawhika |first=Ani |date=February 8, 2024 |title=Electric buses soon to take to city streets |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/electric-buses-soon-take-city-streets |publisher=Otago Daily Times }}{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2021 |title='The way of the future': Dunedin trials first electric bus |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/300417658/the-way-of-the-future-dunedin-trials-first-electric-bus?rm=a}}
From March 2024 onward, live electronic arrivals boards will be installed in Dunedin and Queenstown.{{Cite web |title=Bus use on the rise in Dunedin and Queenstown |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/2024/february/bus-use-on-the-rise-in-dunedin-and-queenstown |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=www.orc.govt.nz |language=en}}
Airport buses
File:super shuttle23.JPG to Dunedin Airport loads a passenger at Dunedin railway station]]
There are no conventional airport bus services to Dunedin Airport: this airport is served by a large fleet of shuttle vans provided by several operators including most of the local taxi companies. Airport shuttle vans typically stop several times en route to pick up or let off booked passengers.
Orbus runs bus route 1 to Queenstown Airport from other parts of Queenstown.{{Cite web |date=November 2019 |title=Queenstown Bus Timetable Route 1 |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/media/7530/route-1-timetable-queenstown.pdf |access-date=14 June 2023 |website=Otago Regional Council}}
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://orc.govt.nz Otago Regional Council]
{{Bus transport in New Zealand}}{{Public transport in New Zealand}}