NZ Transit Buzz

#RailNews: Advocacy group The Future Is Rail is calling for an urgent, nationwide shift toward rail transport to protect New Zealand from the escalating global fuel crisis. Via Scoop: wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=178594

#TransportNews: With petrol prices jumping 50 cents a litre in the last month, a 15-kilometre commute in the car is now costing drivers roughly double what they'd pay for the bus or train, and that's before you've even found a parking spot. Via RNZ: rnz.co.nz/national/progr…

#TransportNews: A city-shaping public transport system may demand the purchase of private land in Christchurch, but council staff say they will try to avoid it. Via The Press: thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360969…

#TransportNews: Inside this edition: Kinetic spreads pride in Wellington, AT relocates art piece for eastern busway and Brougham Buses no 25 returns with a fresh paint job. Read the Weekly Review now through the link in our bio.

#TransportNews: Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger says he and city council staff are working towards a trial of trackless trams, and an early proposal may be just a few months away. Via The Press: thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360967…

#TrainNews: Wellington rail network upgrades continue over the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends, with buses to replace train services on the Kāpiti, Hutt Valley, Johnsonville and Wairarapa lines. Via Scoop: wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=178558

#TransportNews: Working from home is being seen as a “permanent structural change” with 31,000 fewer Wellingtonians a day travelling to work, putting harbour ferries and some train services at potential risk. Via The Post: thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360968…

#StationNews: Works on the Henderson Station platform extension and bay platform are nearing completion The entire platform has been asphalted, shelters installed and hoardings removed. Work on the new emergency exit is continuing with the main structure already complete.

#BusNews: Rural families worried about whether their children are still eligible for government-funded buses to school can for now breathe a sigh of relief. The Ministry of Education confirmed it's pushed pause on reviews into compliance. Via RNZ: rnz.co.nz/news/national/…

#FerryNews: The new Cook Strait ferries are officially priced at $596 million, but internal figures show the total could reach $716  million once delivery costs, contingency, and exchange rates are included. Via The Post: thepost.co.nz/politics/36096…

#BusNews: Buses in Lower Hutt are picking up more passengers as the RiverLink project’s construction ramps up, but their punctuality during rush hour is becoming patchy because of the disruption. Via The Post: thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360969…

#BusNews: Northwest Auckland residents are irritated that the Westgate bus station will not offer any free parking spaces for its users. Via Te Waha Nui: tewahanui.nz/auckland-issue…

#BusNews: Councillor Richard Hills has announced that Auckland Transport has seen a 30% increase in students using public transport since the tertiary discount was increased to 40%. Richard also confirmed that in Auckland over the past week 100,000 PT trips had been taken.

#BusNews: Parents in Shannon are the latest community to call for answers to cuts to high school bus services to Palmerston North, but a user-pays solution could be in the pipeline. Via The Post: thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360968…

#TicketingNews: The transport agency says it has “received assurances” from contractor Cubic that its $28.9 million loss will not affect the beleaguered national ticketing system programme. Via BusinessDesk: businessdesk.co.nz/article/policy…

#BusNews: A mother who now has to make two one-hour round trips to get her son to school every day says her petrol bill has tripled to more than $300 a week. Via RNZ: rnz.co.nz/news/national/…

#RailNews: Christchurch’s controversial Scruttons Rd rail crossing upgrade is going ahead, but the plan has been made “significantly” cheaper. Via The Press: thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360968…

#TicketingNews: The firm contracted to deliver the beleaguered national ticketing system has reported a nearly $29 million loss. Via BusinessDesk: businessdesk.co.nz/article/infras…

#CRLNews: Crews have partially unveiled the signage at the Victoria Street West entrance to Te Waihorotiu Station. NZ Transit Buzz has witnessed crews working on the electrical elements on the signs interior.

#CableCarNews: For this week's Sonic Moment of Calm, RNZ Concert's Bryan Crump took the slow way to work on Wellington’s Cable Car. Via RNZ: rnz.co.nz/concert/progra…