There will be some changes to routes due to the Vintage Weekend street pedestrianisation. Between Wicksteed St and Trafalgar Square, buses will take Guyton St and St Hill St, avoiding closures on Drews Ave, Ridgway St and Victoria Ave.
All services will run on their Saturday timetables on Monday as it is a public holiday.
Whanganui District Council’s representative on Horizons’ Passenger Transport Committee, Anthonie Tonnon, says using public transport is an era-appropriate way to enjoy Whanganui Vintage Weekend.
“In the middle of last century, the average Whanganui resident took 70 trips on public transport per year - many of them on the tram and bus routes between Aramoho and Castlecliff, along which The Tide service travels today.
“That’s much higher than today, though public transport use in Whanganui is growing, with 14,934 trips recorded in November 2023 - more than double the 7,287 trips recorded in November 2022.
“The Tide has been a big reason for that increase, with the 8,515 trips recorded on The Tide in November making it the most popular bus service in the Horizons Region that month.”
Read says it is also now cheaper to catch public transport in Whanganui thanks to Connect’s new fare capping system.
“If you catch eight bus rides in a week in the city, the rest of your trips that week are free.
“You have to pay with a Bee Card to access fare capping, but cards are available for free on buses until the end of February.”
For more information about The Tide, fare capping, pets on buses and public transport in Whanganui, see https://www.horizons.govt.nz/buses-transport or follow Connect - Horizons Regional Transport on Instagram and Facebook.
