Listed company Infratil’s New Zealand Bus business unit has lost four South Auckland public transport contracts to Iwi-owned Go Bus Transport after a competitive tendering process.
The new contracts, which commence in October 2016, will see Go Bus invest $40 million in new vehicles, equipment and new depot facilities.
NZ Bus is running more than 150 buses in South Auckland, and the public transport operator is still in negotiations with Auckland Transport to renew other contracts representing more than half of its current business in the region.
Go Bus Managing Director Calum Haslop says entry into the Auckland market signals a new phase in the continued growth of the company under the shared ownership of Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corp and Tainui Group Holdings.
Haslop says Go Bus Transport is also the biggest provider of School Bus services throughout the country.
It is managing the new South Auckland public transport services from its Mangere office from where it currently operates an Auckland Ministry of Education contract.
Go Bus will supply a total of 89 buses for the Auckland Transport contracts, the majority of which will be brand new and locally built on European chassis.
Tauranga-based Kiwi Bus Builders and Rolleston-based Designline Bus Pacific will be manufacturing it’s low emission buses.
“These new additions to our fleet will deliver South Auckland passengers a much-improved bus experience, with an emphasis on safety, quality, comfort and reliability,” says Haslop.
The fleet will also feature Euro 5 compliant diesel engines that meet the world’s toughest emission standards as well as being very economical,” he says.
In addition to the infrastructure investment, 250 new jobs in both driver and management roles will be created according to Haslop.
