Waipā bus timetables are changing next week – with a new weekday service added between Leamington and Cambridge High School.
A year after the new daily services and electric buses were introduced to Waipā, patronage has increased notably, with passenger numbers up 33 percent in Cambridge and 28 percent in Te Awamutu-Kihikihi.
Waikato Regional Council and BUSIT, who plan and provide the services in partnership with Waipā District Council, have reviewed passenger habits over the last 12 months and have now streamlined the timetable to best meet the community’s needs.
The 8.05am trip from Leamington to Hamilton will now stop in Taylor Street to allow students to get to Cambridge High School, with the afternoon service to Leamington providing a return trip.
The weekday late night trips between both Cambridge and Hamilton, and Kihikihi/Te Awamutu and Hamilton, which had very low use, will now only run on Friday evenings.
Transport manager Bryan Hudson said the changes would be cost neutral. “It seemed a no-brainer to stop the Monday to Thursday late night bus service, which is typically empty, in favour of a regular trip from Leamington to Cambridge High School, and we expect passenger numbers will grow as a result.
"The timetables have also been adjusted for time accuracy, to better reflect the travel times between stops,” Hudson added.
For further information on the updated schedules, visit busit.co.nz/regional-services.
