Auckland Transport has awarded New Zealand bus operator Ritchies a nine-year $1.068 billion dollar contract to deliver expanded bus services in south and west Auckland.
The contract marks the largest ever tendered bus services contract in the country, and will see 175 new electric buses introduced on the network.
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Ritchies CEO Michele Kernahan welcomes AT’s decision as a vote of confidence and a reflection of the work that’s been put in to increase the quality of Ritchies offering.
She says she sees this contract as a credit to the entire Ritchies team for their hard work and dedication, whether they are driving buses, managing operations or cleaning and maintain fleets.
In a Linkedin post celebrating the teams success, the bus operator also announced the acquisition of Pavlovich Coachlines Limited.
“We’re especially pleased that Pavlovich Coachlines is joining the Ritchies team,” the post reads.
“Together, we are not just building a better future for Ritchies, we’re delivering value for ratepayers and creating a more comfortable, connected and sustainable way to travel for the communities we serve”.
“We have also used the opportunity of this new contract to further provide for the safety of our employees and passengers by committing to fitting our buses with advanced safety features including driver assistance systems, pedestrian and cyclist detection and fatigue management.”