Go Bus Press Releases
August 2009 (Go Bus Transport - Media Release)
COMMERCE COMMISSION DISMISSES ALLEGATIONS
The Commerce Commission has dismissed allegations of anticompetitive behaviour made against Go Bus in September 2008.
The allegations were made after Go Bus' successful bid to take over Ministry of Education school bus routes in the central north Island, Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay.
Managing Director Calum Haslop says they always knew they had done nothing wrong and were extremely confident of the outcome.
"The Commerce Commission has cleared us, and dismissed the ridiculous allegations following an official investigation. The allegations were always without foundation and had been made by disgruntled operators who were unsuccessful in the tender process. It is nice to now have an independent authority settle the matter once and for all. I hope this will help those in the communities we are serving to put aside any concerns about the future of the service. We are proudly here to stay."
"Everyone who tendered had the same conditions and criteria to meet. Arguably the incumbents had an advantage with their existing extensive knowledge of the area and routes to draw on.
"We worked extremely hard to gain an intimate knowledge of the routes so we could provide the most competitive tender that would also improve the quality of service for the schools. We are proud of the fact we were obviously very competitive, getting many of the routes we tendered for. Suggesting we would resort to anticompetitive practices to provide the best tender is insulting, but we do feel vindicated by Commerce Commission having investigated and dismissed the case," Mr Haslop said.
"We've not let this distract us though, and have just got on with the job. We are very happy with the customer comments coming back to us and pleased we can now close this chapter and continue to focus on the future of the service without any further distractions."
January 2009
GO BUS GETS BAY JOB!
By MARTIN TIFFANY - Waikato Times
Hamilton-based Go Bus takes over the Tauranga suburban bus runs later this year after beating other bidders by millions of dollars.
It is another feather in the cap of the self-described "big, little bus company" that was formed six years ago through the merger of family bus companies.
While it does not provide much direct employment for Waikato people, it does cement the company's place in the market.
Go Bus has provided urban transport services in Hamilton for several years and this year also won the contract for Napier and Hastings. It continues to aggressively tender for other school and urban runs.
Go Bus is looking for 38 more bus drivers when it takes over the Tauranga contract on June 29 and it plans to offer employment to up to 25 drivers from incumbent operator Bayline.
Go Bus commercial director Craig Worth said: "It's a Tauranga operation so obviously that's where we need them."
Go Bus won the tender with a price $3 million less than other bidders, including Bayline, which has built up the Tauranga service over the past seven years.
The 5 1/2-year contract is worth nearly $7.5 million, with the costs shared between Environment Bay of Plenty, NZ Transport Agency and the collection of bus fares.
23 January 2009
Tauranga to get bus services on Sunday
by Graham Skellern
A Sunday passenger service and later weekday buses will be introduced when a new operator takes over the Tauranga suburban runs during the middle of the year.
Environment Bay of Plenty, which manages the public transport services, awarded the Tauranga urban contract to Hamilton-based Go Bus ahead of the existing operator Bayline Coaches, which has the familiar bright yellow Bay Hopper buses. The new contract, with different buses and improved passenger services, begins on June 29. Under the revised arrangement, there will be services on Sunday and on all public holidays (except Christmas Day), operating on an hourly basis, and the buses will run during the week until 10.30pm, instead of the present 8.40pm.
There will be new direct services from Papamoa to Bayfair, through downtown Tauranga from Pyes Pa west to Mount Maunganui, and from downtown to the airport; an additional Maungatapu to downtown run; a new link to the Cheyne Rd private hospital, and some buses from Matua and Otumoetai will be re-routed, avoiding Charpel St.
The regional council, working with Tauranga City Council and Go Bus, wants to create three major bus corridors - Mount to downtown, Cameron Rd, and Papamoa/Bayfair to downtown. It will result in more buses travelling along Cameron Rd and Maunganui Rd.
Environment Bay of Plenty wants to make the bus routes more direct and more frequent. It is also working on a simpler bus fare, by reducing the present four-zone system that creates 40 different fares including concessions and Smart Ride tickets.
In a presentation yesterday, Go Bus executives said they needed 31 buses for the 5 1/2-year Tauranga contract, plus three or four back-ups.
Go Bus had placed a $10 million plus order with Ashburton-based Designline coach builders for 21 new buses and the others would come from its existing fleet. The low-floor buses, with easy wheelchair access, will be larger - a mixture of 40-seaters and 35-seaters when Environment Bay of Plenty called for a capacity of 29 seats in a bus.
A Go Bus director Calum Haslop said the Tauranga urban service was the missing piece of the puzzle. It had been operating school runs in the district for 15 years through Te Puke and Mount Maunganui Bus Services. Go Bus, which also operates the Hamilton and Napier/Hastings urban services, was formed six years ago through the merger of family bus companies. "We call ourselves a big, little bus company," said Mr Haslop.
Go Bus would require 38 extra bus drivers for the Tauranga contract and would offer employment for up to 25 Bayline drivers. "We are actively recruiting drivers and if any need to be re-trained we can do this through the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic - though we have two full-time trainers ourselves," said Mr Haslop.
Bayline managing director Tony Lugg suggested Go Bus would need 38 buses and 60 drivers to fulfil the new contract. He was presently running 45 Bay Hopper drivers. "They (Go Bus) can take as many (Bay Hopper) drivers as they like - they need to have continuity of jobs, that's my first concern," said Mr Lugg. He wrote a letter to Environment Bay of Plenty questioning the tender process, saying his two alternative tenders were returned unopened. Regional council management said yesterday the tender included two envelopes, A outlined the services that would be provided, and B detailed the price. They confirmed that the A envelopes were opened and the proposals were studied - but they didn't meet the specifications outlined by the council and the B envelopes were returned.
22 January 2009
New and improved bus services for Tauranga
Local peopled can expect better bus services in Tauranga under a new Environment Bay of Plenty contract. The improvements will include Sunday services, later weekday buses, a service on all public holidays except Christmas day and more accessible low-floor buses.
Environment Bay of Plenty awarded the contract to Hamilton-based Go Bus in December 2008 and it will take effect from June 2009.
Environment Bay of Plenty Deputy Chairman Philip Sherry said the vast majority of current routes would be maintained and new direct routes, new links and additional services to existing routes would be added to the network.
"We will also be increasing the number of buses along Maunganui Road, Cameron Road and from Papamoa/Bayfair to the city. Essentially, we want to create three major 'corridors' for bus services," Mr Sherry said.
"It will mean passengers don't necessarily have to worry about timetables during peak times along these main routes because there will be far more frequent buses," he explained.
Mr Sherry said there would also be bigger and more accessible buses with a view to Go Bus running a full fleet of low-floor buses.
"This will be more comfortable for all bus users as well as improving accessibility for people with disabilities, parents with prams and people who may find it difficult to negotiate steps," he said.
Options for a simpler fare structure are also underway in a bid to encourage more people to use the buses more often. There is also potential for Environment Bay of Plenty to earn half of the profit from internal and external advertising on the buses.
"It is great that Environment Bay of Plenty is able to provide more services and accessible buses, which is in line with SmartGrowth goals of providing sustainable transport options to the growing population of Tauranga," Mr Sherry said.
Go Bus Commercial Director Craig Worth said they were looking forward to expanding their company's presence in Tauranga. Go Bus has been operating school and charter services in the Bay of Plenty for a number of years and has three depots in Te Puke, Mt Maunganui and Tauranga.
"We aim to ensure the service is operated and run by locals, as a local business, even so far as all servicing and maintenance needs being given to local outfits so we are plugged in to the needs of the community we are serving," Mr Worth said.
"Go Bus runs one of the youngest fleets in the country. We have invested $13 million in new buses during the past six months and will be investing a further $13 million for this contract. We are definitely in it for the long-haul."
Go Bus have already received enquiries from people in the region wanting to work for them. "We are hoping to employ as many of them as we can," he said.
The benefits under the new contract include:
- Maintaining the vast majority of existing links;
- Provide a new direct Papamoa ? Bayfair ? Mt Maunganui service;
- Provide a new direct Pyes Pa (The Lakes) ? Greerton ? City ? Bayfair ? Mt Maunganui service;
- Provide a new direct Greerton ? City ? Mt Maunganui service;
- Provide a new link from the city to Tauranga City Airport;
- Provide a new link to Cheyne Road hospital;
- Provide an additional Maungatapu ? City service;
- Potentially increase the number of buses along Cameron Road;
- Create three major 'corridors' for bus services ? Mt Maunganui to the City, Cameron Road, Papamoa/Bayfair to the city;
- Increase the number of buses along Maunganui Road;
- Significantly reduce duplication of routes and departure times;
- Bigger buses;
- More accessible buses; and
- Simpler fare structure.
Environment Bay of Plenty is looking at options for a new name for the service as Bayline Buses own the trademark on Bay Hopper.
"A new name will be agreed well in advance of June with Go Bus. We will also be looking to maintain the distinct look and feel of the current Tauranga buses, and continue to build on the connections local people have to their bus service," Mr Sherry said.
For more information call 0800 4 BAYBUS or visit www.baybus.co.nz
For further media information please contact Environment Bay of Plenty Group Manager Strategic Development Mary-Anne Macleod on 021 923 332 or Bronwyn Campbell, Community Relations Manager on 021 287 9380. For information on Go Bus please contact Commercial Director Craig Worth on 021 925 512.
22 December 2008
Go Bus Wins Tauranga Urban Contract
Go Bus says securing the Tauranga urban contract is another high point in a highly successful year.
Go Bus commercial director Craig Worth says they are delighted to have the opportunity to serve Tauranga's residents and understand the expectations placed on them.
"Tauranga is New Zealand's fastest growing city and is experiencing the growing pains that come with it. Public transport is an important service to offer residents to ease congestion, and keep traffic flowing, but the success of any public transport system is whether it's attractive and effective.
"We pride ourselves on the quality of our buses, and run the youngest fleet in the country which means they are comfortable and reliable. We also ensure the service is operated and run by locals, as a local business, even so far as all servicing and maintenance needs given to local outfits so we are plugged into the needs of the community we are serving," Mr Worth says.
He says the set-up team will be mobilising early in the New Year to ensure a smooth transition when the contract is let in June 2009.
"We are very mindful of the needs of the current contractor and staff. This is a highly competitive industry and the tender process is tight, but once the contract is let, our desire is to work with the incumbent and their drivers to ease the transition. The drivers in particularly deserve the reassurance that we will be hiring locally for the local knowledge and our door is open to them."
Winning the Tauranga contract is a significant achievement for Go Bus, and tops off the company's best year. While it hasn't won all tenders sought, it has successfully grown the business with the expansion of its school bus runs now across the central North Island, and this the second of two new urban contracts. Go Bus also won the urban contract for Napier and Hastings and has had the Hamilton contract for a number of years.
Mr Worth says an enormous amount of energy goes into developing a competitive tender, and believes the company structure and approach has been key to its success.
"We pour resource into the tender, including the painstaking effort of running every kilometre of the routes so we can price them appropriately. Our decision to maintain a young fleet is also important as new buses are more fuel efficient and require less work at each scheduled maintenance check. "As a result, we can provide an attractive and safe fleet at a competitive price-per-kilometre rate and still offer our bus drivers a wage that is higher than the average across the country."
11 December 2008
Media Release
Check Routes For Changes
Parents should double-check with their school before year's end to see whether there are changes to the school bus routes for 2009, Go Bus Commercial Director Craig Worth says.
Mr Worth says the Ministry has advised Go Bus there are a few changes to the official routes, and Go Bus is also aware some of the routes have evolved over the years but not been documented.
"The Ministry has kept us and the schools up to speed with the official routes, but in some cases the previous operator has evolved routes, and not updated the Ministry. As a result, the Ministry's official route may not be consistent with the route being followed. "The only routes we know of are those supplied by the Ministry of Education, which form our contract agreement with them. So obviously from day one, these will be the routes we will follow. On saying that, we will be responsive to community needs as appropriate, and there may well be extensions to routes that are school or parent paid that we need to know about as soon as possible. Either way, we strongly suggest parents double-check the official route so there are no surprises on the first school day in 2009," Mr Worth says.
Mr Worth says all schools have been supplied with the relevant Ministry of Education bus routes, but parents will probably be more familiar with the routes than the schools themselves, and will spot any changes.
Go Bus is currently underway uploading all the route maps - almost 300 maps for all its routes, but searchable by area or school - onto the Go Bus Website. It will advise when this has been complete, though certainly available in the New Year.
For media queries contact
Commercial Director Craig Worth
021 925 512
5 December 2008
Media Release
Go Bus Backs Inquiry Into Tender Process
Go Bus is backing the call by new Education Minister Anne Tolley for an Auditor-General inquiry into the School Bus Tender process.
Go Bus Managing Director Calum Haslop says the misinformation given to local communities in some areas by the incumbent operator has been unnecessarily damaging to community confidence.
"I believe some have tried to sow confusion and worry in their own community by attacking the Ministry's tender process. I can understand someone wanting to protect their business, but doing so by spreading misinformation to create a climate of fear amongst their own customers, staff and community seems unkind to say the least.
"Attempts to undermine the improved service we will bring by attacking the tendering process is a red herring that will be dealt with definitively by the Auditor-General inquiry. We are rock-solid about the quality of our tender, and welcome close scrutiny by an independent," Mr Haslop says.
The inquiry will not affect the contracts as they have been let and are legally binding. The Auditor-General inquiry is into technical aspects of the tender process, to determine whether improvements could be made in the future."The facts are that from February 2009, school children under Go Bus care will enjoy newer, higher-quality buses that are more efficient, comfortable and with the latest safety ratings compared with those currently on the routes. At the same time, the routes will be run by local people who know the area and the people they are serving. It's all positive for the children and their families," Mr Haslop says.
"It's business as usual for us," Mr Haslop says. "Our focus remains on completing the set-up phase over the next few weeks and getting buses on the routes from February 2009."
4 December 2008
Go Bus committed to local approach - with newer vehicles
While it may be a new name with new buses, it's going to be a local service for the school children we carry, Go Bus Commercial Director Craig Worth says.
"I understand there is a community concern Go Bus is a remote Hamilton company that couldn't understand or respond to local needs, but it's simply not how the business works. "We may be a new name for some, but our business will be local. Our depot manager and drivers will be locals, our service needs, tyres etc will all be provided by local businesses ? it will be a local depot serving local needs," Mr Worth says.
He says there are benefits to customers and drivers of having a larger company backing the service.
"We can bring in other buses as needed, we provide full training for new drivers, and we offer opportunities that really only come to a larger company. For example, when the V8s visit Hamilton again, it's Go Bus that will be looking for drivers who want to earn some extra money and be a part of the excitement of a major Australasian event.
"Our standard employment package is comprehensive, and given industry standards we are offering an above average wage - in fact over the last five years we have worked to increase wages by 51% and are committed to keeping above the rate of inflation," Mr Worth says.
27 November 2008
Go Bus Launches Investigation, Praises Driver
Go Bus is praising the actions of its driver who acted according to training to get all passengers to safety before his bus caught fire on rural Te Pahu Road yesterday afternoon.
Commercial director Craig Worth says a full investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
"We have one of the highest Certificate of Fitness pass rates in the company, and a young fleet, so getting to the bottom of this is top priority for us. Our insurers and our own crew are on the job to determine the cause. "We pride ourselves on safety, and even though we lost a bus yesterday, our safety training and a cool-thinking driver in Larry Lawrence prevented worse. He did it by the book and should feel very proud of his actions. He's a credit to Go Bus," Mr Worth says.
For more information contact
Craig Worth - 021 925 512
