InterCity Increases Coach Services to Assist

July 5, 2006

InterCity Increases Coach Services to Assist Tranz Scenic Passengers Still Affected by Strike

As the Tranz Scenic Overlander train remains un-operational due to a workers strike, national land transport operator InterCity has extended the number of additional services between Auckland and Wellington to 70 to make sure domestic and international travellers are not left stranded during the busy school holiday period.

Last week Tranz Scenic announced that its Overlander Train between Auckland and Wellington would be stopped on a rolling seven day basis due to an Ontrack maintenance workers strike.

When this announcement was first made, InterCity and Newmans Coachlines reacted quickly and worked to immediately add 60 additional services between Auckland and Wellington including new services through Ohakune, National Park and the King Country. Today as the strike remains, the company has extended additional services to cover the end of the school holidays with a further 10 services to cope with passenger demand.

“Our new services will also run through to Ohakune, National Park and the King Country to cover stops usually offered by the Overlander.

“We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure there is adequate public transport available on this route. Routes through to Ohakune, National Park and the King Country have proven popular and we may leave these in place permanently, time will tell,” said Malcolm Johns, CEO of InterCity Group.

InterCity is continually investing in New Zealand’s long distance public transport infrastructure. Yesterday the company launched the largest coach to hit New Zealand roads, which represents a $750,000 investment, this is the first of four coaches InterCity has commissioned.

The 65-seater, double decker, 13.5 metre long coach will run on the Auckland to Wellington route, carrying 30 per cent more passengers than previous coaches. InterCity Coachlines is New Zealand’s only long distance passenger transport system for the majority of communities throughout New Zealand. Nationwide it carries 1.2 million passengers each year and operates 130 daily services to 600 cities and towns.

ENDS

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