Stagecoach Wellington must improve, councillors warn

Greater Wellington councillors have warned bus operator Stagecoach Wellington that it was failing its customers and that its poor service during the last two weeks would no longer be tolerated.

Directors of Infratil, Stagecoach Wellington’s parent company, were yesterday called to attend a meeting on Monday (Feb 19) to explain why many peak services had been delayed and cancelled without warning during the past two weeks.

The company has apologised for the poor service caused by driver shortages but councillors, who say the disruption could have been foreseen, have demanded that specific action must be taken to improve the situation.

Glen Evans, chairman of the passenger transport committee, said: “We have had an unprecedented number of complaints about Stagecoach Wellington’s services over the past couple of weeks. This situation simply can’t go on.

“Ratepayers subsidise Stagecoach Wellington to the tune of $11m a year. The council’s policy is not to pay for services that are not delivered and we fully intend to implement that policy in this case.

“Bus passengers, and ratepayers generally, deserve much better and we will be seeking assurances from Infratil that this will not happen again or if disruption is foreseen that the public is warned.”

ENDS

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