Taranaki Regional Council media release

10 October 2007
For immediate release

Bus Connection For Inglewood

A community problem that put the global spotlight on Inglewood is about to be addressed.

A weekly return bus service from the township to New Plymouth will start on 1 November, giving residents access to retailers and other services not available locally.

Inglewood hit the headlines internationally last year when a church organised a “knicker run” to New Plymouth after the local clothing shop stopped selling women’s underwear.

The new bus service, to run on Thursdays, is being operated by Tranzit Coachlines over a 12-month trial period, assisted by the Taranaki Regional Council and Land Transport New Zealand.

The bus will depart Inglewood at 10am, arriving at the Ariki Street bus station in New Plymouth at 10.35am. The return journey starts at 2.10pm, arriving at Inglewood at 2.45pm. The fare will be $5 each way for adults and $4 for children.

“The service has been timed to arrive at Ariki Street five minutes before CityBus departures to other parts of the city,” says Taranaki Regional Council Director-Operations Rob Phillips.

“We’re keen to see how this trial goes and as with other bus services we’re trialling in Taranaki, it’s a case of use it or lose it.”

Mr Phillips says the “knicker run” headlines highlighted a public need that the Council had already become aware of.

The Inglewood service will also stop at Egmont Village.

The Taranaki Regional Council has also revamped the CityBus service in New Plymouth, and initiated once-a-week return South Link services connecting Waverley with Hawera, and Opu;nake with Hawera and New Plymouth.

More information on the Inglewood service will be posted on the Taranaki Regional Council website, www.trc.govt.nz, closer to the launch date.

ENDS

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