Ritchies Transport regional manager Malcolm Budd with one of the four new urban buses worth $480,000 that will be on Dunedin streets in coming weeks.
This bus will cover the Pine Hill to Lookout Pt run from today with three others in production at Designline Pacific in Christchurch.
The 30.5m-long, three-axle buses seat 54 people and allow 12 to stand. They also have larger wheelchair and pram areas, air conditioning and a PA system.
Mr Budd said that, during the summer, when not covering the company's two Otago Regional Council-contracted services, they would be used as cruise-ship passenger shuttles.
"It's ... good for Dunedin and lifts the image of buses," he said.
The national company was making a "massive investment" in upgrading its fleet and was "here to stay" in the Dunedin market, Mr Budd said.
