Tranzit says it is looking forward to forging new electric bus ground in NZ alongside Horizons Regional Council
New Zealand family-owned bus company Tranzit has announced that it will partner with Horizons Regional Council to introduce the first fully electric bus fleet in the country into Palmerston North next year.
Horizons says that Tranzit was awarded the contract to introduce 42 brand new electric buses into the city as part of the Council’s new and improved Palmerston North and Ashhurst bus network.
This new contract, to begin in February 2024, continues the long-term partnership Tranzit has with Horizons, having delivered public transport services to the community of Palmerston North for 25 years.
During this time, Tranzit says it has delivered all services, met Key Performance Indicators and continuously invested into the community by introducing Euro 6 low emission vehicles into the fleet and in 2021 introduced the city’s first electric bus at no additional cost to Horizons or to ratepayers.
Tranzit director of transport and operations Keven Snelgrove says the company is thrilled with the outcome and he thanked his operations and driving team for their outstanding service delivery. He says introducing a fully electric bus fleet into the city will be a source of immense pride for the company.
“Introducing the first fully electric bus fleet into regional New Zealand is exciting for Tranzit and is a continuation of our commitment to innovation and building a sustainable bus fleet having previously introduced the first electric bus into New Zealand in 2018,” Snelgrove says.
“Our team is looking forward to continuing the great partnership we have with Horizons and helping decarbonise public transport in the city.”
Keven also acknowledged Horizons decision to expand and improve the Palmerston North and Ashhurst bus network, which will more than double the number of current bus trips available.
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He says it follows the great work Horizons recently did in Whanganui, where Tranzit also partnered with them to deliver The Tide, a new high frequency bus service.
This new contract will see Tranzit remove its current fleet of 26 diesel buses from circulation and replace them with 42 brand new electric single deck buses.
Tranzit is in discussions with New Zealand and Chinese electric bus suppliers. Along with having zero emissions, the new bus fleet will be quieter, providing a smoother and more comfortable ride for passengers and drivers. Keven says the new buses will also have a range of about 300kms so they can undertake a full day in service without needing to charge.
In addition, Tranzit will upscale its current Palmerston North depot to accommodate new chargers which will complement the 120kW charger that has been operating for almost two years.
Tranzit Coachlines Manawatu manager Tony Chettleburgh says his team is looking forward to beginning the contract in February 2024 and delivering improved bus services for local communities.
“This is great news for Palmerston North as having an all-electric bus fleet will help the city meet its decarbonisation goals and ensure we all live, work and play in a city with clean air. It is also great foresight by the Council to invest into more frequent bus services meaning options for getting around the city will improve,” Chettleburgh says.
He says Tranzit will need to recruit a further 50 drivers to support the growing network with recruitment efforts already underway.
“Having a fully electric bus fleet will be a very attractive option for drivers as they are so comfortable and smooth to drive. We are optimistic about welcoming new team members having recently bucked the national bus driver shortage in Whanganui – recruiting 22 drivers to deliver The Tide frequent bus service,” he says.
“This included seven who were completely new to the industry and many who have previously driven bus or trucks and are returning to the industry after a break, so we are feeling positive.”
At the announcement in Te Marae o Hine – The Square, Horizons chair Rachel Keedwell says the contract was awarded to Tranzit through a highly competitive tender process which involved a number of very capable suppliers.
“Tranzit bring a proven track record of delivering bus services in Palmerston North and we look forward to working with them to deliver this incredible change,” says Keedwell.
Tranzit says the new bus network is a core project in the Palmerston North Integrated Transport Initiative’s (PNITI) programme. It is part of a wider package of work to improve safety and access for people in the city, alongside other projects such as speed management, improved walking and cycling facilities.
Connect, the brand for Horizons regional transport, will be present on all buses operating in the Palmerston North fleet.