Hamilton's Orbiter Bus has first birthday

The success of Hamilton's Orbiter bus service was assured well before it reached today's first anniversary, says Hamilton City Council Transport Committee Chair, Councillor Dave Macpherson, with higher than expected patronage figures from day one pushing record growth in the city's bus services.

"In the first 12 months of operation, approximately 420,000 passengers have traveled on the Orbiter, an average of over 3 trips per man, woman and child living in the city."

In the year to 30th June, Hamilton City bus services carried 2,689,855 passengers, a 38% increase on the previous year, and representing 93% of all passengers on public transport services in the Waikato Region.

"Thinking we needed to be realistic at the start of such an experimental public transport service, we budgeted on only 150,000 passengers for the Orbiter in the first year," said Cr Macpherson.

"With the Orbiter carrying nearly three times that number, our Council has been encouraged to think of more innovative transport solutions for the city and surrounding areas."

"Subject to Government and regional resources being released, we are currently looking at more express services, and new cross-city connections, as well as buses running later into the evenings and Saturdays, as well as Sunday services, and an Auckland-Hamilton commuter rail link."

"We are appreciative of the hard work of Regional and City Council operations staff, who have helped make this outstanding success possible."

ENDS

© Scoop Media