The new buses, including 26 double-deckers, will run every ten minutes on AT’s WX1 Western Express frequent service from Westgate to the city centre via the Lincoln and Te Atatū bus interchanges.
The new buses will also replace current diesel buses on the 11T, 11W and 12 routes in the coming months.
Auckland Transport (AT) fleet specification manager Edward Wright says Auckland is now well on its way to hitting its 2030 target for the electric transition.
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Auckland now has 224 electric buses, with AT saying it operates more electric buses than any other city in Australasia.
“Each of these new double-decker electric buses can fit 100 passengers, and we have boosted capacity on the WX1 service by an additional 7333 seats every weekday, and 51,000 seats every week,” Wright says.
“We’re adding another 31 electric buses to our fleet by the end of June. By August next year, we will have a fleet of 450 electric buses, which is around a third of the 1350 buses that operates AT’s services.
“Longer term, we have plans in place for Auckland’s bus fleet to be fully electric by 2035.”
AT public transport services and planning development head Pete Moth says bus lines had also been upgraded in West Auckland as part of the fleet changeover.
“We have replaced the old 120 service with the frequent 12 service. This new route links Greenhithe and Constellation Station on the North Shore, and unlike the old service, it will run along the motorway instead of residential roads – meaning faster journeys for most users,” Moth says.
“It will initially run every 12 to 15 minutes in peak times, and every 30 minutes at off-peak times. Once necessary charging facilities are in place, route 12 will run at least every 15 minutes, 7am to 7pm, seven days a week.
“This will bring around 40 per cent of West Aucklanders within walking distance of a turn-up-and-go bus or train service.
“We have also added more trips to the WX1 and 11T/W services.”
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