On Board with Orbus - May 2023

Regular timetable returns to QT

Good news for bus passengers in Queenstown – Orbus services will return to a more regular timetable on Thursday, 1 June.  

🚍🚍For many routes that means more buses, more often 🚌🚌.

There may still be cancellations on some services due to weather or lack of drivers, but we finally have enough capacity to move back to the more frequent timetable.  

Still have questions? We’re here to help make the change easier for you.

Call our helpline or visit www.orc.govt.nz/orbusqt for more information. 

Read the media release here.

 

New service from Warrington, Dunedin

New manager on board

Meet our new public transport manager, Lorraine Cheyne. That’s Cheyne not to rhyme with the ‘rain stays mainly on the plain’ but the French chêne for oak tree, rhymes with keen. 

So, she’s actually the keen Lorraine Oak Tree, a good sturdy name for a testing role. Lorraine heads up a small but incredibly hard-working team of just six operational and customer staff who look after the operation and service delivery of both Queenstown and Dunedin’s Orbus services.  

We can thank Lorraine’s son going to university in Wellington for her being free to take up a new challenge after leaving Bay of Plenty District Council where she was in charge of transport and urban planning. She has previously also worked at Waka Kotahi, formerly known as New Zealand Transport Agency, where she was involved with some early Queenstown Way to Go planning.  

Now based in Dunedin, the self-confessed urbanite Lorraine is also a keen horse-rider. When not riding horses, she will probably be riding the bus. Of Dunedin Lorraine says, “I love the architecture and the wayfinding, the signage that helps you read about the fascinating history of places like the Exchange and the other historic buildings and special places. It’s great to climb the hills and get the wonderful views of both the harbour and the coast. Dunedin is such an interesting and beautiful city.” 

 Her first problem-solving test is obviously the driver shortage. “This is not a unique problem to Dunedin – it’s a national news story as it is causing issues in Auckland and Wellington.  ORC has moved early to increase driver pay, which has been a good step in the right direction. 

That’s not all. The tracking system is being looked at and there’s plenty of work to be done to prepare for the more frequent timetable in Queenstown to be re-instated on 1 June. She’s also looking forward to meeting with various groups and stakeholders in coming months.  

“There is still more work to be done to make our buses more attractive and convenient to more of the people, more of the time.” 

Real-time tracking update 🚍

You may have noticed some changes online and at our major bus hubs in Dunedin and Queenstown. We are trialling a new bus tracking system, following passenger feedback.

You’ll see new maps online with greater functionality and precision, and real-time route information at stops at hubs in central Dunedin and Frankton, Queenstown. 

If you use tracking maps on our website, whether on phone or desktop, here are a few key pointers to get you on your way:

• Get to your tracking map via your route.  
• The green dot is your location. If you don’t see it, just zoom in to where you are. 
• The orange dots are bus stops. 
• The blue moving dots are buses moving around.
• Click an orange dot and you will see all the buses due at that stop and by when.

Buzzing about Queenstown's new retailers

Welcome to the Bee whānau Paper Plus at Queenstown Airport and Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa 😎

Good news, especially for visitors flying into Queenstown. You can now buy a Bee Card at Queenstown Airport’s Paper Plus shop, which is where you used to be able to buy the old GoCard.  

This means visitors can buy and top up their Bee Cards with a bank card before leaving the terminal, instead of withdrawing or carrying cash to buy them on the bus. This will also free up the wait times at the airport ✈🛫🐝 🚍

Plus, if you are staying at the Hilton or using the Hilton Queenstown Ferries stop, you can top up and buy your Bee Cards before you jump on board. 

LUMA brighter by bus 

✨We’re back for the region’s favourite light show.

Orbus will be supporting LUMA again this year with free shuttle buses.  

Make your LUMA experience even brighter by catching a bus with other LUMA goers and avoid parking woes in town.  A special bus service will be running over King’s Birthday Weekend, from 1-5 June. 

Check OrbusQT on Facebook for details.

Earlier this year we consulted on a change to route 3, which services the Tainui area. 

The reason for the proposed change was to increase safety. This followed upgrades to intersections and streets around the schools that made it more challenging for the buses to make the required turns safely in heavy traffic.  

The final part of the consultation was carried out recently, with residents asked about the positioning of bus stops along the proposed route.

Thanks to all who have given us their feedback 😊 

We will update you once the new route and bus stops are in position.