Auckland to get double decker buses

Ritchies have ordered its first double decker bus, which the company hopes to have on the road as soon as October. Photo / NZ Herald

Double decker buses will soon be a regular sight in Auckland with bus companies set to introduce the larger vehicles to keep up with ever-increasing passenger numbers.

Ritchies director Andrew Ritchie said the company had already ordered its first double decker bus, which it hoped to have on the road as a trial as soon as October.

The bus would run from Albany into central Auckland and would carry up to 114 passengers, up on the maximum 88 passengers currently.

The company said it planned to introduce 20 double decker buses in the future, all operating along North Shore routes.

It is understood NZ Bus company is also planning to introduce double decker buses.

Auckland Transport chief executive David Warburton said Dominion Rd was another possible route for the new buses.

The move had the potential to increase capacity by about 70 per cent on some of the city's busiest routes, he said.

Before any trial could begin, issues such as the weight, height and width of the buses would need to be addressed to ensure they met national standards, he said.

Possible routes would also have to be checked for access around power lines, shop verandahs and bridges.

Mr Ritchie said the buses, which were similar to the double decker which operate in Singapore, complied with all current New Zealand transport regulations.

"We've been running double decker buses for about 15 years on our inter city and charter fleet but certainly, with the growing numbers on some of the routes that we run, we want to provide passengers with a bit more comfort and a bit more room," Mr Ritchie said.

"I think they could become quite an iconic part of the Auckland landscape."

Auckland Mayor Len Brown welcomed the idea.

"Demand for public transport in Auckland is going through the roof. New infrastructure such as the City Rail Link is vital to unclog our roads. But at the same time innovative and forward thinking proposals like this from our bus operators are great ways of maximising our existing route system. I look forward to the trial," he said.