Passengers set to leave on a double-decker bus as part of
First City Tours yesterday. Citibus, which operates the
tour, is looking for another double-decker bus. Photo by
Gerard O'Brien.
Demand dictates Dunedin needs a new double-decker bus.
Citibus general manager Tony Collins has confirmed the
company is "actively looking" for a new bus to replace its
1976 Bristol double-decker, which was retired in March last
year.
The company, which is owned by the Dunedin City Council
through Dunedin City Holdings, has been operating tours with
only one double-decker bus, a 1981 Bristol, during the busy
cruise-ship season and the situation was far from ideal, he
said.
With more tours held during the cruise-ship season, another
bus was required to cope with demand and to provide back-up
in the event of any mechanical problems, Mr Collins said.
He was confident the company could source a new bus from
either Ireland or England for between $160,000 and $200,000.
Because of tougher regulations introduced last year, the
company was after a 1990s model, which would be required to
be refitted with a Euro 4 diesel engine.
The buses, which had been operating since the mid-1990s, were
used on the First City Tours trips around Dunedin and for
private charters.
However, no charters were being run until a replacement bus
was found, he said.
Last year, First City Tours recorded 16% more passengers than
the previous year.
hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.