Latest news with #ThomasNash
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Happy Valley Land Purchased For Metlink Bus Depot
Press Release – Greater Wellington Te Pane Matua Taiao Approved by 86% of respondents during consultation for the 2024-34 Long term Plan, the strategy to acquire depot sites is considered crucial for securing the long-term continuity of Metlink bus services. A Happy Valley site has been purchased by Greater Wellington for the development of a bus depot as part of the regional council's Public Transport Asset Control Strategy. Approved by 86% of respondents during consultation for the 2024-34 Long term Plan, the strategy to acquire depot sites is considered crucial for securing the long-term continuity of Metlink bus services. Greater Wellington Transport Committee chair Thomas Nash says by controlling depots, the council is removing barriers for new bus operators to enter the market. 'Value for money for residents and public transport users through open and fair competition is a key plank of our strategy, which also aims to improve the passenger experience as we transition to a zero emissions fleet,' Cr Nash says. 'This purchase gives us a base for growth by encouraging bus operators that do not have depots to bid for Metlink contracts. It gives us certainty to make long term investments in charging infrastructure for electric buses, at a location that will help us deliver a more planned, responsive and efficient network.' 'We need the right infrastructure in the right places,' says Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter. 'The depot will be near the start of several bus routes – including the high frequency route 1 – and will support the expansion and electrification of north to south services. 'Beyond 2030, the future is uncertain for the earthquake prone, historic Kilbirnie bus depot, while a depot in Rongotai has space constraints. 'That's why Metlink is also exploring opportunities for another depot north of Wellington, and breaking ground on a new depot by the airport to buttress east to west buses – including our most popular service, the route 2.' Greater Wellington takes possession of the one-hectare, Happy Valley section in May 2026, and plans for a depot to open there in mid-2028. Deputy Transport Committee chair Simon Woolf says the purchase is 'sensible future proofing' for the region. 'Happy Valley depot will eventually strengthen bus services between Wellington's south coast and growing areas in the north,' Cr Woolf says. 'It will initially stable up to 80 diesel buses, until sufficient energy is connected and battery chargers installed to power our expanding electric fleet.' South Wellington bus user and regional councillor Yadana Saw says Metlink is committed to being a good neighbour and responsible member of the Happy Valley community. 'Securing this site safeguards public transport assets in public ownership. It enables genuine engagement with people working and living nearby and strengthens our partnership with mana whenua Taranaki Whānui and Ngāti Toa Rangatira – by bringing us together on any sites of significance,' Cr Saw says. 'BigAir gym will continue to operate on the site, and other tenants will be given time to relocate. When development begins, we'll take steps to protect Ōwhiro Stream from any stormwater run-off that comes from the section. This is a win for transport, the environment and our community for the long term.'
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Happy Valley Land Purchased For Metlink Bus Depot
A Happy Valley site has been purchased by Greater Wellington for the development of a bus depot as part of the regional council's Public Transport Asset Control Strategy. Approved by 86% of respondents during consultation for the 2024-34 Long term Plan, the strategy to acquire depot sites is considered crucial for securing the long-term continuity of Metlink bus services. Greater Wellington Transport Committee chair Thomas Nash says by controlling depots, the council is removing barriers for new bus operators to enter the market. 'Value for money for residents and public transport users through open and fair competition is a key plank of our strategy, which also aims to improve the passenger experience as we transition to a zero emissions fleet,' Cr Nash says. 'This purchase gives us a base for growth by encouraging bus operators that do not have depots to bid for Metlink contracts. It gives us certainty to make long term investments in charging infrastructure for electric buses, at a location that will help us deliver a more planned, responsive and efficient network.' 'We need the right infrastructure in the right places,' says Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter. 'The depot will be near the start of several bus routes – including the high frequency route 1 – and will support the expansion and electrification of north to south services. 'Beyond 2030, the future is uncertain for the earthquake prone, historic Kilbirnie bus depot, while a depot in Rongotai has space constraints. 'That's why Metlink is also exploring opportunities for another depot north of Wellington, and breaking ground on a new depot by the airport to buttress east to west buses – including our most popular service, the route 2.' Greater Wellington takes possession of the one-hectare, Happy Valley section in May 2026, and plans for a depot to open there in mid-2028. Deputy Transport Committee chair Simon Woolf says the purchase is 'sensible future proofing' for the region. 'Happy Valley depot will eventually strengthen bus services between Wellington's south coast and growing areas in the north,' Cr Woolf says. 'It will initially stable up to 80 diesel buses, until sufficient energy is connected and battery chargers installed to power our expanding electric fleet.' South Wellington bus user and regional councillor Yadana Saw says Metlink is committed to being a good neighbour and responsible member of the Happy Valley community. 'Securing this site safeguards public transport assets in public ownership. It enables genuine engagement with people working and living nearby and strengthens our partnership with mana whenua Taranaki Whānui and Ngāti Toa Rangatira – by bringing us together on any sites of significance,' Cr Saw says. 'BigAir gym will continue to operate on the site, and other tenants will be given time to relocate. When development begins, we'll take steps to protect Ōwhiro Stream from any stormwater run-off that comes from the section. This is a win for transport, the environment and our community for the long term.'
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Free fares for bus-replaced Wairarapa train services long time coming
File photo. Waterloo train station. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Free fares for Wairarapa train services that have been bus replaced indefinitely have been a long time coming says a local councillor. The route between the capital and Masterton has been plagued by issues for the first half of this year. In March RNZ reported that just 17 percent of Wairarapa's trains were on time for most of February. Between April 2024 and April 2025 patronage on the line had plunged by 25 percent. Greater Wellington Regional Council have pointed to a lack of staff on the Wairarapa line which have necessary specialised training for the Remutaka Tunnel which had resulted in four services a week being bus replaced till further notice. The regional council believed Transdev who employed rail staff could provide enough training for the necessary number of workers by September. At a meeting today, council decided until then the bus replaced services would be free on the Wairarapa line. Greater Wellington regional councillor for Wairarapa Adrienne Staples said at the meeting the concessions were a long time coming. "This has been going on for a couple of months, we've been tearing our hair out in Wairarapa about this, and it has taken such a long time for us to take it seriously." Staples said the council now took the issue seriously but was critical for the time it took to do so. Fellow councillor and transport committee chair Thomas Nash said this was good initiative but that the problem was in the context of a wider problem with passenger rail in New Zealand. Nash said whenever tactical interventions like this were considered it needed to be done alongside consideration of long-term issues with the rail lines such as who owns the rail assets and the control of them. It was estimated that the council would lose between $4000 and $6000 a week because of the concessions. The council has also said that rail infrastructure issues such as rusty rails, points failures and signal faults have caused delays for trains. KiwiRail chief metro and programmes officer David Gordon said the Wellington rail lines went through a period where they did not see the level of maintenance investment they needed for decades. "Particularly the Wairarapa Line which was approaching a state where closure may have been necessary." Gordon said while infrastructure issues contribute to the performance of the Wairarapa passenger trains, there were other factors. "Service crewing shortages remain an ongoing problem and these are not a KiwiRail responsibility." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
30-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Buses replace trains all long weekend in Wellington
Passengers in Wellington should expect more travel time this weekend as busses replace trains across all rail lines. Greater Wellington Transport Committee Thomas Nash spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Road Safety Week 2025: Press Pause And Pay Attention When Crossing The Road
Press Release – Greater Wellington Te Pane Matua Taiao Greater Wellington transport committee chair Thomas Nash stresses the importance of road users paying attention when driving and looking out for people, especially young people who may step out on the road. Metlink is reminding road users to pay attention to pedestrians and asking young people to 'press pause' before crossing the road this Road Safety Week (12-18 May), after a car hit a high school student who was crossing the road in front of a school bus earlier this year. Greater Wellington transport committee chair Thomas Nash stresses the importance of road users paying attention when driving and looking out for people, especially young people who may step out on the road. 'Wellington roads can be busy, especially around schools at pick up and drop off,' Cr Thomas Nash says. 'Cars are dangerous, and almost all road incidents are preventable. Avoid distractions when driving – put your phone away and be hyper aware of children and older people. 'When you're walking, look up from your phone and make sure you can anticipate what a distracted driver might do on the road. By looking up from your phone and being alert you help keep everyone safe on the road.' This year, Metlink is working with schools across the region to raise awareness of road safety. Aotea College principal, Kate Gainsford, says the road incident in February was frightening when a student was injured on the road. 'It was awful to have one of our students involved in a road incident on their way home from school, not just for the student who was hurt and their family, but the whole community. 'We do our best to keep our students safe both inside and outside the school gates. The conversation about safety on and near roads is important and everyone has a part to play in reinforcing the messages about safety. 'Learning road safety is lifesaving education that needs to be instilled in our young people.' Managing director for Metlink operator Kinetic, Calum Haslop, wants to drive home the message of slowing down around school buses. 'Slowing down around buses isn't just courteous, it's critical. Passengers often need to cross the road after getting off the bus, and reducing speed is a key safety measure to prevent serious incidents. 'We want to remind drivers of the 20km/h speed limit when passing a stationary school bus. Even near misses can have serious consequences for everyone involved.' Metlink encourages everyone to pay attention when travelling and sharing the road with public transport.
