The Otago Regional Council has "unreservedly" apologised to Port Chalmers bus users after the first cruise ship of the season once again overwhelmed public transport.
The council issued a statement yesterday saying its contractor had not lived up to its end of their agreement and the council was investigating.
Cruise ship passengers crowding on to public buses, leaving locals without a ride, tarnished last year’s cruise ship season.
Now, despite assurances additional buses would ease pressure on public transport, council transport manager Lorraine Cheyne confirmed yesterday issues had cropped up again on Monday — the first day cruises returned to the city this year.
The bus service ran well for most of the day during off-peak hours, she said.
However, about 4.30pm a large group of cruise ship passengers arrived at the Central Dunedin bus hub to get on the Route 14 bus to Port Chalmers.
Their ship had an evening departure.
Extra buses to cater to the higher demand were not sent as promised and contracted, Ms Cheyne said.
The council had taken this up with the contractor.
Additionally, the council knew of at least one bus that left the bus hub full of passengers, she said.
An agreement was in place with the contractor so this did not happen.
Capacity was supposed to be maintained on buses for locals at stops along the way to Port Chalmers after buses left the bus hub.
"For some reason this didn’t happen, and the extra buses did not turn up.
"We unreservedly apologise to passengers who were left behind as the bus went past full to capacity, and for the fact there were no subsequent back-up buses as we had arranged with the contractor,” she said.
The council was investigating and had contacted the operator to express its disappointment, she said.
The council would meet the operator before the next cruise arrived on November 17, Ms Cheyne said.
One social media user said a bus drove past him and four others waiting for it near Otago Museum about 5pm.
It was 15 minutes late and displayed a sign reading "sorry, bus full", he said.
"How hard can it be for bus drivers to leave space for regular passengers and not fill the bus up in the middle of town?"
Before the cruise ship season began, the council announced it was adding nearly 300 additional bus trips to and from Port Chalmers to ease pressure on public transport during the five months cruise ships visited Dunedin this season.
