Sighting of a GoBus double decker bus in Raglan on at least a couple of occasions has set chins wagging on Bow Street. The word is that the double decker could be used on the Hamilton-Raglan service as a way of solving the overcrowding problem and the large number of passengers that have to stand on the twisty road over the divvy. It is likely that the empty double decker bus being driven on Route 23 is part of a safety and viability trial by Waikato Regional Council and Go Bus.
From October 2016, double decker buses have been used in Auckland following a rule change by Transport Minister Simon Bridges on the 2nd September which allows extra large double-deckers with up to 91 seats to run on Auckland streets.
Mr Bridges said the change would allow road-controlling authorities to issue permits for high capacity buses to exceed current axle weight limits by up to 1.5 tonnes – starting in Auckland. He added, “This is just the starting point. There is also potential to extend these rules to allow heavier buses to travel inter-city, carrying more travellers to the regions.”
So although at the moment, a fully loaded double decker couldn’t be used on the Raglan- Hamilton Route 23 it seems a permit could be issued by the road-controlling authorities for the double decker to be used on State Highway 23. With the new bus contract coming into force from April 2017 with a much better financial deal, there may well be funding available for adding additional seats with the extra large double decker.
Raglan bus watchdog, John Lawson said, “I still don’t understand why they’re so reluctant to extend the Whatawhata bus to Raglan, which would give more capacity. The proposed timetable seems unlikely ever to make much use of the capacity of that bus, which seems wasteful.”