Taranaki Regional Council media release

30 June 2008

A new public transport website for the region - www.taranakibus.info - has been launched by the Taranaki Regional Council to mark the arrival of a new operator for New Plymouth's bus services.

From tomorrow (1 July), Tranzit Coachlines will operate public bus services in New Plymouth, Bell Block, Waitara and Oakura, under the City Link banner and under contract to the Council. Tranzit has purchased the previous operator, Okato Bus Lines, and is also taking over its school bus runs.

The website www.taranakibus.info has full details of routes, fares and timetables for the City Link services, and links to details about school bus services, the South Link and Inglewood-New Plymouth weekly bus services, and to the websites of operators of other scheduled bus services to, from and through Taranaki.

"The new website is straightforward, uncluttered and easy to use," says the Taranaki Regional Council's Director-Operations, Rob Phillips. "While the primary focus is on bus services in New Plymouth, the idea is to have one portal for people looking for information about any scheduled bus services in the region.

"We expect there'll be a lot of interest, given what's happening to petrol prices."

Mr Phillips says there will be no change to routes, timetables and fares in the bus services being taken over by Tranzit. The old 10-trip tickets will be accepted for the first month.

"We will be introducing new early morning and late afternoon commuter services before Christmas, and convenient new fare-paying technology is also being investigated. Keep an eye on www.taranakibus.info for announcements."

ENDS

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