The new Thames bus service will officially begin next Monday 4 December.   Fares just $2

Fantastic and exciting news.

Congratulations to Thames Taxis who have been awarded the 6 month trial contract. Thames Taxis have purchased a brand-new 17 seater Ford Transit minibus to provide the service. The bus has very comfortable seats with seat belts, air conditioning, a security camera, entry handrails, and an electric step which slides out when the bus door is opened. Thames Taxis are to be applauded for providing such an excellent new vehicle.

The fares will be $2 for an adult and $1 for children for a single trip – either northbound or southbound.  The really good news is that holders of a Super Gold Card will be able to travel for free during the trial, (and once the service becomes a permanent operation.)

There will be 5 circuits of the township, Monday to Friday.  The 1st circuit will commence at Bupa Tararu Retirement Village at 9 AM and the last service will leave Bupa Tararu at 2 PM.

Southbound

For the southbound route the bus will commence at Tararu, take a detour into Moanataiari, pass through Grahamstown to the Hospital entrance, cross Pollen Street past the Civic Centre to Goldfields Shopping Centre, onwards to Richmond Villas, then past the Library and the Medical Centre, up Sealey Street, across the hill suburbs via The Terrace and Harvey Crescent, down Brunton Crescent, up Herewaka Street, across Mount View Road, down Grafton Road to Parawai Road and the Bupa Booms Retirement Village.

Here is the timetable Southbound –

Northbound

For the northbound route, (dark blue in the map below) the bus will proceed from The Booms Village along Parawai Road to Banks Street, Rolleston Street, Fenton Street, passed the Centennial Pool to Richmond Villas, thence onto Goldfields Shopping Centre, into Sealey Street past the library and the Medical Centre, and the hospital and then return to Bupa Tararu via Grahamstown, Moanantairi and Tararu .

Here is the timetable Northbound

Route

Here is a copy of the route map with the proposed bus stops.  Note that the northbound route is pale blue.  It takes a direct path from Parawai into the CBD, and a slightly different route from Goldfields into Sealey Street, past the Library, Medical Centre and Hospital, before then heading north retracing its southbound route through Grahamstown, Moanataiari and Tararu.

Please provide feedback

Please bear in mind that this is a trial and there may well be alterations to the service based on public feedback. So I would encourage you to use the service and then provide feedback to the Council by ringing their customer service number on 868 0200 or by sending an email to customer.service@tcdc.govt.nz   Suggestions about possible alterations to the route, location of bus stops, the timetable or any other feature will be welcomed.

To keep it – use it !

But the most important thing of all is to make sure that you spread the word to anyone who might possibly use the new service. Even if you drive a car – why not leave the car at home on some days and take the bus.  The next 6 months are going to be absolutely critical as to whether the service will continue. If the uptake of people using the bus is too small, we will lose the service forever. – Use it or lose it.

Sponsorship

Big thanks also to Richardson’s Real Estate, Thames you have generously donated $10,000 towards the running of the trial.

Teresa Ramsey has written a lovely article about the new bus service on Stuff

with residents at the 3 retirement villages being given a free ride. 

 

Watch out for more publicity on the TCDC website, The Hauraki Herald, on Coromandel FM  and for a leaflet drop