Division over trolley buses (by Teresa Maxwell, Transport reporter

Wellington groups are divided over whether the city's 60 electric trolley buses should stay, says a review prepared for Wellington Regional Council.

The review, by Carolyn O'Fallon of Pinnacle Research, was to be presented at the council's passenger transport committee meeting today.

Committee chairman Terry McDavitt said it would be discussed at a workshop before the council made a decision about the future of the trolley buses early next year. The city bus contract expires in June next year.

A new trolley bus contract is expected to cost up to $1.4 million more than would a diesel bus contract, mainly because of the cost of maintaining overhead wires.

Dr O'Fallon's report says groups such as Campaign For A Better City (CBC) and Assembly Of People With Disabilities (DPA) seem divided on whether the trolley buses should be kept.

DPA had reservations about prolonging their use because of concerns about accessibilty for people with disabilities and older people who couldn't cope with their steps, the report said.

CBC argued that they were a recognised historical feature, so should stay.

Wellington bus company Stagrcoach was in favour of keeping them at least until 2004, which would maximise it's investment and allow Stagecoach to keep it's monopoly, it said.

The cost of keeping the trolley buses was partially alleviated by the fact that residents and retailers were willing to pay some of the extra cost, review surveys found.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Homepage