More drivers have the buses running

By JASON COLLIE transport reporter

The shortage of drivers which caused hundreds of Auckland bus services to be cancelled appears to be over.

Bus company Stagecoach is now at full strength for the first time in over a year and bosses hope it will now be able to meet its schedules after missing more than 1000 journeys since March.

Although it missed 131 services last month because of staff shortages, only two of those were in the final fortnight of July, according to figures given to the Auckland Regional Council.

The company was more than 70 drivers short earlier this year, but a big recruitment drive has left it with 14 drivers above its target level of 850, Stagecoach operations director Darryl Bellamy says.

The company blames the shortage on a high number of resignations and longer training for drivers under the new licensing system.

The Auckland Tramways Union blamed conditions in the company's employment contract.

Mr Bellamy said: "Clearly we are apologetic for the situation which occurred and we are well aware of the needs of customers if we are to grow the business and get confidence in public transport.

"As a consequence, we have put a lot of effort into fixing the problem as quickly as possible."

He said Stagecoach would also react more quickly to any future shortages.

The multinational company, which is paid $23.5 million a year to run subsidised services in Auckland, was called before the regional council in June to explain its problems.

The council then began to receive weekly updates on Stagecoach's driver numbers.

Council transport director Barry Mein said, "We would hope the situation has been addressed and the shortage is a thing of the past.

"We will continue to monitor it."

Meanwhile, the council's transport committee has given a trial bus feeder service to Half Moon Bay a stay of execution.

Trial public transport services can be cancelled after six months if they do not reach 50 per cent of forecast passenger numbers and revenue. Although the feeder service is at about 44 per cent patronage, it has been given six more months to improve.

Senior transport planner Alison Rust said the Howick and Eastern Buses service was important because it served the successful ferry link to downtown.

Getting Auckland moving – Herald stories

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