2023-02 On Board with Orbus

Orbus

News flash for On Board with Orbus, your source of news and information about Dunedin and Queenstown's bus networks and the Bee Card 🐝🚍

Here is our first On Board with Orbus newsletter for 2023 and it’s packed with news for you! We plan to make On Board with Orbus a little more regular this year, so if you have any feedback on what you’d like us to include, email comms@orc.govt.nz.

Regular timetable returns to Dunedin

Good news for bus passengers in Dunedin – Orbus services returned to a regular timetable on 1 February.

The updated timetable information is on the Otago Regional Council website where you usually find your timetable information, on the Transit app and at the e-stops at the Dunedin Bus Hub.

Buses are now running to the timetable that was operational prior to July 2022 when we changed to the reduced timetable.

In other words, if your bus ran four times an hour but then dropped to twice an hour during the reduced timetable, you will now go back to four buses an hour.

There may be cancellations as we ease into the more frequent timetable, so please check the website for alerts before setting out on your trip.

You can also look for notifications on the Transit app, which is free to download (more information below).

The Orbus Dunedin Facebook page will carry any major updates about the networks or traffic works that may create diversions.

ORC also has a free helpline where passengers can talk to someone about how this affects their particular journey. The number is 0800 ORBUSDN (0800 672 8736).

Queenstown is expected to return to a regular timetable on 1 June 2023, when more drivers will be available.

Still have questions? We’re here to help make the change easier for you. Call our helpline or visit www.orc.govt.nz/orbusdn for more information.

Half price fares extended

In January, the Government announced an extension to its half-priced fares scheme until 30 June 2023. This means adult bus fares will continue to be $1.50 cash in Dunedin and $2 in Queenstown, or $1 using a Bee Card, while the Queenstown ferry service will remain at $7 cash one-way or $5 with a Bee Card. You can find out more here.

Please remain kind and respectful to our drivers

Our drivers are doing a great job getting Dunedin back to a regular timetable, with over 97% of services running to schedule, and we thank them for their outstanding mahi!

We know the return to the regular timetable has seen a few cancellations. It’s tough when a bus you expect doesn’t turn up. However, please remain kind and respectful to our drivers.

While most passengers are respectful, a small number of customers are treating our drivers poorly, so we ask that you please help them out by respecting the work they do – and respecting them as well.

The drivers are people too, doing their job and their best to help you get where you need to be safely.

Many of our drivers are new, and we’re incredibly grateful that they have taken up the wheel to get more buses on the roads. This is a time when we need to encourage people to drive buses, so please, please don’t take your frustration out on the drivers.

Refer to our Code of Conduct for more information. Note that CCTV is always in operation on our buses.

Queenstown's new student-only bus route

We are now running a new, students-only Route 1 bus service to and from Wakatipu High School each school day.

This Route 1 bus will depart Sunshine Bay at 7:55am and travel via the usual route through Fernhill, Shotover St, Stanley St, and Frankton Road — bypassing the airport — to arrive at Red Oaks Drive around 8:30am. The bus will transport students home via the same route, departing from the bus stop outside Wakatipu High School at 3:35pm.

We are also continuing to run an after-school Route 4 bus service between Jack's Point and the Frankton Bus Hub, and an after-school service between Arrowtown and Arthurs Point via the Events Centre for Arrowtown Primary School students.

You can find the Orbus Queenstown school bus timetables here.

Thank you for your patience and support Queenstown

We want to thank those who catch the bus. It has not been easy, we know. Here’s a message from Doug Rodgers, our Interim Transport Manager:

"Kia ora,

We want to reassure you that we are working hard with Ritchies to provide more reliability while ongoing recruitment and driver training is underway. We have also funded higher wages for drivers, which has seen a positive effect.

Nationally, improving driver conditions is a focus for the industry and we are committed to more drivers, more buses, and better reliability.

As our passengers, we value you and are committed to making your experience better. So, we ask that you hang in there with us as we move towards a wider service. There will be some bumps along the way, but we are committed to providing a better service for you all.

We’ll be keeping you posted every month in this column. In the meantime, go to www.ORC.govt.nz/orbusqt for your daily updates.”

A message for the Queenstown community from Doug Rodgers, our Interim Transport Manager.

Have your say on the future of public transport in Queenstown

What will Queenstown look like in 15 or 30 years, and how will we get around?

We are leading a business case to find out these answers, in partnership with our Way to Go partners and co-funders of the service, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (WK).

The business case on how public transport could evolve over the next 15-plus years is one of several under the Way to Go programme designed to encourage more people onto buses, bicycles, ferries, and other modes of low-emission, active or shared transport.

To develop this case for change, ORC will be consulting with the community. Importantly, people will need to look further than the current challenges and think about what they want to see in the Queenstown area in years to come.

Keep an eye out on the Orbus Facebook page, our website, and other channels for the opportunity to participate between March and April. The consultants will also be at various events and locations to talk to bus users during the engagement period. Further information on the Queenstown Public Transport Business Case (QTPTBC) can be found here.

Notice for Port Chalmers bus passengers

When cruise ships arrive in Port Chalmers, peak demand always increases for public transport from the port to the city.

We have arranged additional buses and placed posters around Port Chalmers encouraging cruise ship passengers to give priority to elderly, children and school students.

However, when cruise ships are visiting, we know it's going to be a busy day, so we recommend arriving earlier than usual. Thank you for your patience.

Reminder: you can use your Bee Card on Queenstown Ferries too

ORC launched its Bee Card on the Queenstown Ferries service in September 2020 and since mid-2021 has been part-subsidising the ferry service across Lake Whakatipu, which is owned and operated by RealNZ. Now you can hop from bus to boat with ease. Find out about fares and more here.

Transit, the everyday app for Orbus users

Plan, track and follow your bus with Transit.

The free Transit app is a good way to make sure you’re up to date. The app has real-time information on all bus movements in Dunedin and Queenstown. To get the most out of the app, pin your favourite routes. When you pin routes, it allows you to receive push notifications when there are major alerts on the bus network, like diversions or large-scale disruption.

Once you have selected a route on the app, you will notice a pin pop up. Tap the pin to let Transit alert you of disruptions or cancellations on that route. You can select if that is for peak or for all times.