Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
On the bus from Blenheim to Renwick
Two passengers on the way to Renwick and our very own driver on the way back. takes the bus.
It’s 1.55pm and there’s two people waiting for the new Blenheim to Renwick bus service.
The bus pulls up to Seymour St Countdown at 2pm, it’s early. Although the signage isn’t correct, it says it’s destined for the Airport via Vaughan Street, which isn’t actually in Blenheim, it’s in Rotorua.
We’re told that it’s because the bus only arrived down into Blenheim yesterday – so there was still some setting up to do. Some of the new bus stops haven’t been painted on the ground yet either.
I pay with cash – it’s the only option on this service – it’s $3 each way so for the photographer and I, I hand over $12 for the return trip. Although if we were only going to the airport it would cost $2, something I’m going to keep in mind in case I’m ever flying out of Blenheim.
At 2.05pm the bus takes off. No-one else has hopped on the bus in the time we waited.
The service travels to Springlands Countdown, Pak ‘n Save, the Marlborough Airport and Woodbourne, before it ends up in Renwick.
It’s a pretty quick service, 19
Maia Hart
minutes in total. No-one flags it down during this time, so it only briefly stops outside Pak ‘n Save, otherwise it just cruises through.
There’s no-one waiting for the bus in Renwick either.
Ritchies Transport Holdings Ltd bus driver Jon Sharpe said he was the driver for the earlier service at 9am, which had five people on it.
‘‘Because it’s the first day, I suspect it will get busier,’’ Sharpe said.
‘‘The more people hear about it, the more they’ll use it, there was apparently a lot of interest in it which is why they’ve brought the trial in.’’
He said the Blenheim-Picton trial service, which first started in August had been getting busier and busier.
No-one tries to get on the bus at any of the stops on our way back into town, so we were given our own ride, chatting to the bus driver as we went.
Councillor Cynthia Brooks, who lives in Renwick, said last month people needed to support the new services as they were an 18-month trial.
‘‘Through the public survey we ran last year, I know many residents are passionate about improving public transport in Marlborough,’’ she said.
‘‘If the new services are supported by the public, they are much more likely to continue for the long term.’’
From Monday to Friday the service leaves from Seymour St Countdown at 7.05am, 9.05am, 2.05pm and 5.35pm.
It departs Uxbridge St in Renwick at 7.30am, 9.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm.
There are fewer services on the weekend, leaving Seymour St Countdown only at 9.05am and 2.05pm.
More information can be found on the Marlborough District Council website.