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Red Bus (New Zealand)

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Red Bus
ParentRitchies Transport
Founded1991
Ceased operationDecember 2020
HeadquartersChristchurch, New Zealand
LocaleNew Zealand
Service areaChristchurch
Service typeBus services
Fleet52 (December 2020)
Annual ridership3.87 million (2017/18)
Fuel typeDiesel
Electric
Chief executiveN/A
Websitewww.redbus.co.nz

Red Bus was a bus operator in Christchurch, New Zealand. Red Bus operated public transport bus services around Christchurch on behalf of the Canterbury Regional Council, and it operated the free inner city Shuttle on behalf of the city council until the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

On 4 November 2020 it was announced Ritchies Transport Holdings Limited had purchased the assets of Red Bus, with 63 job losses. The sale was completed on 7 December 2020.[1]

History

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An electric Red Bus in Christchurch (2019).

Red Bus evolved from the Christchurch Transport Board which for several decades had run all urban bus services with its distinctive red buses. It was then owned by Christchurch City Holdings, a holding company of the Christchurch City Council.[2][3] Red Bus operated the free central city bus, The Shuttle, on behalf of Christchurch City Council from 1998 to 2011.[4] In November 2016 the business of Aaron Travel was purchased.[5]

The company lost routes in the 2019 tender for Public Transport services conducted by the Canterbury Regional Council (ECAN),[6] the agency that runs public transport in Christchurch – reducing it to running just 20 per cent of the urban network.[6]

In June 2019 three Alexander Dennis Enviro200 bodied BYD K9 electric buses were introduced.[7][8] In December 2014, a charter division commenced under the Red Travel brand.[9][10][11] Red Travel was closed down in May 2020 as a result of the actual and forecast reduction in demand due to Covid-19.[citation needed]

On 7 May 2020, the Christchurch City Council held a public-excluded meeting[12] to discuss the future of the company. On 8 May 2020, former City Councillor Deon Swiggs revealed that the Council gave approval for Christchurch City Holdings to explore selling the Red Bus business.[13] Red Bus CEO Paul McNoe resigned as CEO of Red Bus effective immediately on 8 May 2020.[14] The company lost routes in the 2019 tender for public transport services conducted by the Canterbury Regional Council, the agency that runs public transport in Christchurch.

On 4 November 2020 it was announced Ritchies Transport Holdings Limited had purchased the assets of Red Bus.[1]

Fleet

[edit]

As at August 2018, Red Bus operated 151 vehicles, predominantly Designline bodied MANs.[15] This dropped to 52 vehicles in December 2020.

References

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  1. ^ a b Law, Tina. "Christchurch's Red Bus Business Sold, 63 Staff Lose Job". Stuff.
  2. ^ Christchurch City Holdings Ltd Christchurch City Council
  3. ^ Red Travel Launch Red Bus 12 December 2014
  4. ^ Woods, Robert (28 April 2005). "Central City Shuttle contract tender" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  5. ^ Red Bus purchases Aaron Travel Red Bus 8 November 2016
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Oliver (27 February 2020). "History repeating: Red Bus loses out in Greater Christchurch bus shake-up". Stuff. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  7. ^ About us Archived 28 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine Redbus
  8. ^ Red Bus celebrates city’s first electric bus service Archived 28 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine Scoop 28 June 2019
  9. ^ "Electric buses coming to Christchurch". Red Bus. 11 June 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  10. ^ More BUD ADL Enviro200EV Headed for New Zealand with Red Bus Order Alexander Dennis 13 June 2018
  11. ^ New Zealand's Red Bus orders BYD-ADL Enviro200EVs Coach & Bus Week issue 1347 19 June 2018 page 9
  12. ^ Law, Tina. "Council considers future of Red Bus in secrecy". Stuff. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Update – The Council yesterday green lighted CCHL and Red Bus to include the potential sale of Red Bus".
  14. ^ Guildford, Jonathan. "Red Bus chief executive resigns day after council green lights potential sale". Stuff. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  15. ^ Red Bus Archived 26 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
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Media related to Red Bus (New Zealand) at Wikimedia Commons

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