There will also be a new ‘on-demand’ service for Mosgiel which will provide flexible routes and pickups, alongside the existing fixed routes
Image: KineticBus operator Kinetic has renewed its contract with Otago Regional Council (ORC) for its subsidiary Go Bus to provide public transport services to Brighton, Abbotsford, Green Island and Mosgiel.
With the new contract, 13 fully electric buses will be replacing the current diesel options on the bus routes to support ORC’s transition of the bus fleet to more sustainable options.
From mid-2025, route 77 and 78 buses between Mosgiel and Dunedin and route 70 Brighton services will be fully electric. The new fleet will also include six larger buses on routes 77 and 78, capable of carrying up to 75 passengers each at peak times.
The operation will be carbon neutral, utilising electricity generated from 100% renewable sources, a great outcome for one of the most popular and longer-distance routes in the Orbus network.
The contract also includes a smaller electric vehicle to be used for on-demand services in Mosgiel, which has 22 seats and is wheelchair accessible. From July next year, routes 80 and 81 will be replaced with this option.
“The current loop service (routes 80 and 81) will change from a fixed route, where a bus circulates central Mosgiel every 40 minutes on weekdays,” Otago Regional Council public and active transport committee chair Andrew Noone says.
“Instead, passengers will be able to catch a smaller 22-seat, wheelchair accessible electric bus from a convenient location for them on weekdays between 8am and 6pm.
“Although it will not be a door-to-door service, it will be more targeted to user needs than the loop service and won’t be taking unnecessary trips.”
As part of Kinetic’s sustainability priority to remove every diesel bus off the road, it has set a company-wide target of 100% zero emissions vehicles in its urban operations by 2035, with this contract renewal being a great step towards that goal.
“Thank you to Otago Regional Council for the vote of confidence in Go Bus, and well done to our Dunedin team for dedication in delivering reliable services to the local community each day,” Go Bus COO Ben Barlow says.
“This is an exciting opportunity to introduce new zero emission vehicles to Dunedin and continue our great working relationship with Council, local passengers and key stakeholders.”