NZ Transit Buzz

Kia Ora, Thanks for following NZ Transit Buzz. We have had a large influx of followers over the past few days, here's a bit about us! We are a small Auckland based team with the aim of sharing real-time updates and insights on New Zealand's public transport.

#TrainNews: A $667 million proposal to expand the Te Huia train service has sparked a backlash from Waikato regional councillors, with one calling the idea “stupid” and demanding it be stopped. Others want cheaper buses investigated. Via Waikato Times: www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3611...

#FerryNews: Interislander has launched a new online freight booking portal. Commercial vehicle customers can now book and manage freight journeys through the new portal which is designed to make booking simpler and show clearer visibility of capacity. MORE: www.kiwirailfreight.co.nz/news-and-med...

#BusNews: Ahead of November, Kinetic Group have begun growing moustaches across their Onehunga Depot fleet to promote Men's Health through the Movember Campaign. A range of buses at Onehunga have grown a Moustache including the NB2100 Scania K270's, NB5000 Enviro500's and the GB5800 MAN ND323F's.

#BusNews: Several Ritchies West Auckland based buses have had their destination signs updated which has a fault on the Route 13 data. The data only shows the number 13 and is missing the destination and via route information.

#TrainNews: A new central Hamilton railway station and hourly trains to Auckland are at the heart of a bold plan to transform Te Huia – but the price tag could run into hundreds of millions of dollars. Via Waikato Times: www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3611...

#StationNews: Sylvia Park has recorded a 56% increase in train use as Auckland’s City Rail Link drew more than two million trips in its first month, with early figures suggesting the network is changing how people travel across the city. Via The Post: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3611...

#TrainNews: Greater Wellington Regional Council has shared a video tour of the life-sized mockup of the new Tūhono trains. The train mockup is being used to test usability with train staff and passengers. WATCH: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zdK...

#RailNews: Auckland Transport said a ventilation system issue was identified during pre-service tests on Friday. As of 7.15am, it has been resolved. Via RNZ: www.rnz.co.nz/news/communi...

#BusNews: Metlink's new electric bendy buses are being driven to Wellington over the next week. The buses are set to enter service on Route 2 in late 2026 or early 2027.

#RailNews: A proposal to build a $100 million logistics hub near Mosgiel in Otago has won draft approval from a fast-track panel. Once operational a rail siding would link the hub to Port Chalmers. Via RNZ: www.rnz.co.nz/news/regions...

#BusNews: Auckland Transport has released a new render of a section the Eastern Busway. The render shows how the Ti Rakau and Huntington Drive intersection will look once completed.

#TrainNews: There’s no easy way to put this, but Auckland’s trains smell like piss. Auckland Transport says it doesn't have a pee problem. Auckland’s residents smell things differently. Via The Spinoff: thespinoff.co.nz/society/22-1...

#FerryNews: Explore Group is bringing back its Auckland – Coromandel ferry from Friday 23 October, ahead of Labour Weekend, running Friday to Monday, with an expanded timetable to follow. Via The Coromandel Informer: theinformer.co.nz/community/co...

#TrainNews: A piece of New Zealand’s railway history is set to return again to Taranaki’s tracks this Labour Weekend, The Pahiatua Railcar Society’s heritage railcar, RM 31 Tokomaru, will once again travel the local lines. Via The Post: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3611...

#RailNews: KiwiRail worked with NZTA to repurpose the rockfall fence after it was removed from the State Highway as part of road improvement work. The fence has now been installed alongside the railway beneath the steep coastal cliffs south of Kaikōura.

#TransportNews: Inside this edition: Mainland Rail’s ADL/ADC units move to a new location, GoBay starts new live tracking trial and Waitematā 2 arrives in Auckland. Read the Weekly Review now: nztransitbuzz.substack.com/p/weekly-rev...

#TicketingNews: It’s just over a month until Canterbury makes the switch to Motu Move on public buses and ferries, so what do you need to know? Via The Press: www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3610...

#FerryNews: Orbus Ferries have introduced a new timetable. The new timetable started on October 20 and will see ferries running every 30 minutes during busy periods, stopping at Queenstown Bay, Bayview, Queenstown Marina and the Hilton.

#RailNews: Dunedin’s historic Ocean Beach Railway will celebrate its 65th anniversary over Labour Weekend, with train rides and activities for all the family. Via Otago Daily Times: www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin...

#LocomotiveNews: Five more DM class locomotives have arrived in Lyttelton on board the ship Annie from Spain. The locomotives were removed from the ship using its own cranes and then trucked to the nearby rail line and then craned onto the tracks. WATCH: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaTd...

#BusNews: Christchurch bus routes may be chopped or changed if they trigger any of three mainly financial performance measures. Via The Press: www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3611...

#BusNews: School buses between Ashhurst and Palmerston North are carrying less than half the number of students expected to use them. Via The Post: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3611...

#FerryNews: Orbus Ferries have welcomed a new vessel to their fleet. The new ferry has been named Cecil and is now in service across the Orbus Ferry network.

#BusNews: Compass Coaches have shared photos of their new fleet acquisitions. Compass Coaches has purchased several MAN 17.223's from Kinetic as well as some MAN 18.280's from SBL Group in Nelson.

#RailNews: A Tonkin & Taylor review of the performance of the Heretaunga flood control scheme found raising the height of road and rail bridges at Awatoto, south of Napier City, would lessen the risk of future floods. Via NZ Herald: www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...

#StationNews: A relatively humble train platform in central Christchurch could make all the difference in getting a commuter rail service running from the regions, the mayor says. Via The Press: www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3611...

#StationNews: Temporary murals have been installed in the Glen Innes station underpass. The art panels were officially opened by Gloria and Wayfinders and feature the works of Scarlett Wilson, Stanley Penina, Carla Kahui and Janine Boyagen.

#BusNews: GoBay Hawke's Bay are trialing QR codes that can be scanned to show live bus information for that stop at 10 bus stops across Napier and Hasting. The trial will run for approximately two months before a review of the results before considering any wider rollout.

#FerryNews: Off-peak Gulf Harbour ferry services are in the firing line, with Auckland Transport confirming that once the O Mahurangi Penlink route opens, the ferry will run at weekday peak times only. Via Local Matters: www.localmatters.co.nz/auckland-cou...