Posted: 29 November 2006
Bus service to run over Xmas, New Year
Whangarei bus patrons have received an early Christmas present with the news the buses will keep operating on all statutory holidays for the first time this summer.
Chris Powell, the Northland Regional Council’s Regional Transport Team Leader, says the move reflects public demand and will be the first time the popular five-year-old service – administered by the Regional Council - will run over the Christmas and New Year’s break.
“Buses will be running to the Saturday timetable on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Tuesday 2 January 2006. Normal services will be operating between these days, however, the service will still not operate on Sundays.”
Mr Powell says passengers should check timetables carefully as each route has varied departure times. Signs advising of the holiday operations will be posted in each bus and at the Rose Street Bus Terminus.
Further information is available from Whangarei Bus Services (438 6005), the Northland Regional Council (438 4639) or the Regional Council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz
Meanwhile, in addition to the public holiday service, the Whangarei District Council’s ‘Midnight Movers’ late-night bus service began operating again this month. Buses depart from various inner city locations between 11pm and 3.30am on Friday and Saturday nights and will continue until Saturday 3 February 2007.
The District Council’s popular ‘Beach Buses’ will also be back early next year and will offer return day trips to Ocean Beach (Tuesdays), Ruakaka Beach (Thursdays) and Waipu Cove (Saturdays) throughout January and the first weekend of February 2007. Beach Bus bookings are essential and can be made by phoning Whangarei Bus Services on 438 6005.