Christchurch bus fleet 'disturbing'

File photo of a Christchurch Bus Services bus. Photo / Christchurch Star

Police are appalled at the condition of Christchurch's bus fleet after a sting operation resulted in 28 buses being pulled from the streets.

Sergeant Paul Malony said 103 were checked in the last three days by the Commercial Vehicle Impact Unit.

Of these 28 were ordered off the road and another four were "pink stickered", meaning significant failure was imminent. The buses were also required to get new certificates of fitness (CoF). Faults were found on another 34 buses, which were ordered to be repaired.

"Some of the issues were pretty disturbing," Mr Malony said, with bald tyres, loose steering , faulty brakes, suspension issues and major fuel leaks among the faults found.

"It is unbelievable we would have buses with such brake faults."

Mr Malony said New Zealand's bus fleet is "regularly regulated", with CoFs required every six months, as well as often undergoing police road side checks.

"Transport operators have an obligation to operate vehicles in a safe manner.

"Quite frankly we were appalled with what we found."

Environment Canterbury, which manages the Metro bus system in Greater Christchurch, welcomed the safety checks made on the bus fleet this week but was extremely disappointed at the effect on bus users.

The council's acting director operations Wayne Holton-Jeffreys, said the buses were largely owned by contractors Christchurch Bus Services but also Red Bus and Leopard.

Mr Holton-Jeffreys said that in recent weeks Environment Canterbury had become increasingly concerned at the service being offered by Christchurch Bus Services.

"There have been protracted negotiations over the sale of CBS recently. Earlier this week we gave the company until 5pm [today] to complete the sale. If CBS is not able to complete the sale, Environment Canterbury will be withdrawing contracts.

"The regional council requires bus companies to have safe vehicles on the road at all times. They have to have a certificate of fitness for the bus to be operating and these vehicles must be maintained to that standard at all times that they are operating.

"Environment Canterbury is doing all that it can and working hard with operators to get safety-approved buses back on the roads as soon as possible.

"The removal of a significant number of buses means that Christchurch Bus Services may not be in a position to meet all their contractual obligations on some routes. Environment Canterbury apologises to bus patrons for the failure of these trips."