Overlander: Back from the Brink
Posted by Hamish on October 5th, 2006
The Overlander has been saved for now. Toll has “listened to New Zealand”. But the reprieved service only runs three days a week - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile InterCity has increased its services.
But the interesting question is whether Toll plans to build on the service, or whether they are just running it to prevent another operator onto the tracks.
Time will tell.
January 8th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I think the Overlander has been saved so Toll NZ prevents any other potential operators arriving on the scene.
However, while it has the Auckland - Wellington line tied up, the Auckland - Tauranga line is open for another operator to turn up on the scene. This line would actually provide an operator a better return that Auckland - Wellington for a number of reasons:
1) Rapid turn around of service ( Leg journey time approx 3:30hrs )
2) Service the expanding Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga regions
3) Could run right through to the Mount
4) Could connect at The Strand ( Tauranga CBD) with coach services to other BOP towns.
And once that route has been established, the operator could then grow into the Auckland - Rotorua line. Once Ontrack realises an operator wants to use the line (currently mothballed), within 6 to 8 weeks the line could be re-opened.
Will Nakedbus become Nakedtrain as well?
Jon