Go Bus Christchurch


Go Bus Christchurch Ltd. is a bus company owned by Go Bus Transport Ltd. The company started off as Christchurch Bus Services Ltd in 2004. It was sold to Go Bus Ltd in November 2010 after it was found that Christchurch Bus Services had failed to maintain vehicles and put commuters in danger.

Routes

Go Bus Christchurch operate all routes previously operated by Christchurch Bus Services under the Metro brand:
#RouteOriginViaDestination
BBlue LinePrincess Margaret Hospital & Cashmerevia CityBelfast & Rangiora
OOrange LineHalswellvia CityQueenspark
YYellow LineNew Brightonvia CityHornby & Rolleston
44Shirley & DallingtonCityShirleyDallington
60Hillmorton/SouthshoreHillmortonvia BarringtonSouthshore
80Lincoln/ParklandsLincolnvia CityParklands
95ARACityPegasusWaikuku
130Hei Hei/AvonheadHei Heivia Hornby & Westfield RiccartonAvonhead
140Russley/Mt PleasantRussleyvia Westfield Riccarton & EastgateMt Pleasant

Vehicles

Go Bus Christchurch uses buses brought by Christchurch Bus Services and Leopard Coachlines, these include
#Make/ModelOriginNotes
871–891Designline Mercedes-Benz City BusNew Zealand
894–897Kiwi Bus Builders MAN 15.220New Zealand
844–846Designline MAN 16.223New ZealandAll in Blue Line Livery
847–848Designline MAN 18.223New ZealandAll in Blue Line livery
801–820 & 849–862Zhongtong Bus LCK6112GChina#801–820 Delayed in delivery due to floods in China; #152 Crashed heaverly, Returned to Service as #852; #802 in GoBus Livery
821–826 & 863Zhongtong Bus LCK6126G/HGChina#821–826 Delayed in delivery due to floods in China
865–8662012 Volvo B7RLE New ZealandAll in Blue Line livery
164–191Zhongtong Bus LCK6910GChinaSchool Buses
31–32; 34–35; 50 & 434Coachwork International MAN SL202
Designline MAN 11.190
New ZealandTemporary Buses from Go Bus Hamilton and Red Bus Originally Numbered in the 800–820, they were renumbered on arrival of New Zhongtong Buses

History

Christchurch Bus Services

Christchurch Bus Services Ltd operated Metro routes for Environment Canterbury, and private charter services for groups and schools. It was purchased in December 2010 by Go Bus Transport, of Hamilton, New Zealand.

Timaru operations

Christchurch Bus Services previously operated in Timaru, South Canterbury through its subsidiary Timaru Bus Services, before terminating the contract with 18 months left, due to financial issues. Ritchies Transport gained the five Timaru routes.

Operation Otautahi Waka

Operation Otautahi Waka was a commercial vehicle check on buses conducted by the New Zealand Police on 18 November 2010. Christchurch Bus Services Ltd had four buses ordered off the road, which resulted in it being unable to operate a number of routes. These buses returned to duty the following day after repairs. Redbus and Leopard also had buses ordered off the road. Environment Canterbury gave Christchurch Bus Services until 5pm, 19 November 2010 to complete sale negotiations or lose their contracts for a number of routes. After CBS was sold, it was ruled an illegal action on the part of Environment Canterbury by the Courts and CBS owners received the money owed.

Purchase of Leopard urban bus

In July 2013 Gobus Transport took over the urban operations of Leopard Coachlines, gaining around 90 buses.