New bus sought for city tours

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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.

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