March 14, 2023
Better times ahead for buses says AT
A shortage of bus drivers is crippling services across Auckland.
Routes have been closed, buses cancelled at short notice, and it took two hours to clear the stadium at last week’s Harry Styles concert at Mount Smart.
Darek Koper, Auckland Transport’s bus and train services manager, says operators are talking to the Minister of Transport about getting more money so they can offer drivers better terms and conditions.
“The good thing is with more trains returning to the southern line and the FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be held July, August we will have buses and trains operating to Eden Park and we will be able to support the global events like those concerts and those world cup events,” he says.
Mr Koper says bus operators are also having some success attracting drivers from overseas under new immigration settings.