Bus To Pukekohe

Graeme from Frankton

Something interesting I saw the other day . Busit have now ( from 1 Feb 2019 ) extended the Northern Connection bus service ( it goes to Huntly ) to Te Kauwhata and Pukekohe .

It leaves Hamilton at 9.10am , departs Huntly at 10.05 , Te Kauwhata 10.30 , Meremere 10.46 , Mercer 10.53 , Pokeno 10.58 , Tuakau 11.10 and Pukekohe 11.25am . This is every day , Monday to Friday .

The return trip leaves Pukekohe at 2.30pm , Huntly 3.50 , gets to the Transport centre 4.40pm .

Cost for the 'full' trip is $10.20 each way if you have a Busit card ; $15.20 one off cash traveller . Students and over 65 etc are cheaper .

I find this interesting .

At some stage in the next 2 or 3 years , there is supposed to be a commuter train to Pukekohe . The bus service , by comparison , someone decided there is a need , so it happened .

The train will be over $30 each way , each day . The bus is around $10 . THIS bus service ( to Pukekohe ) won't suit commuters , but it shows what can easily be done .

Does it take 2 or 3 years , numerous meetings , numerous studies , numerous consultants , for Bus It to bring in this service ?

Does it take LTNZ , Government , Ham City Council and Waikato Council money to get this service operating ?

Does it take at least $78 million to get this service operating ?

Does it take new car parks and platforms to get this operating ?

Does it take $20 million to refurbish buses to get this system operating ?

Does this service operate on tracks , which need $100's of millions a year of Government money just to keep operating , or does it pay RUC and petrol taxes and fees to operate on roads that are already built , and which are more than self-funding ?

Does this 300horsepower diesel bus produce more or less harmful emissions to take 10 or 40 passengers , compared to what a 3000 horsepower diesel locomotive produces ?

It sort of makes all the crap around running a commuter train costing AT LEAST $78 million , and ongoing costs , and ongoing meetings , and ongoing time frames , all seem incredibly idiotic , doesn't it ?

Yes , I know , I go on about this , but really -- is there no-one in Government , HCC , WDC or LTNZ with the logic to go -- Woooo , this is a really stupid use of taxpayers and ratepayers money ? Presumably not .