Future of bus services uncertain

Hutt Valley parents are concerned about the doubling of school bus fees, but the new bus company running the service says it’s doing so at a loss.

School holidays are in full swing but soon Stokes Valley parents will have to decide whether to pay next term’s school bus fees, which have risen from $115 to $220 per pupil, or save a bit of money and put them on a public service to Upper Hutt.

New Zealand Coach Services informed parents of the changes after taking over the school run to Heretaunga College and Maidstone Intermediate, along with commuter runs in the Hutt Valley, from NZ Bus in June.

But the owner of NCS says he’s just trying to keep the small school service running because there aren’t enough passengers to break even, and the last company used to benefit from a wider route with regional council subsidies to help offset the loss.

A Stokes Valley mum, who did not wish to be named, said it could now be too tough on parents who will look at other options. ‘‘I for one have a budget which includes bus fare for my two teens to get to college. To suddenly have an extra $200 added to their bus fares is way too expensive for me. I will be sending them on public buses now as it will only cost me approximately $50 more for the term.’’

Some parents have also discussed potential safety concerns with kids on public transport.

Another parent from a singleincome family, who has been in touch with the company and wished to remain anonymous, said D-Day would come at the start of next term. ‘‘There’s no competition. It’s take it or leave it and our bus service will disappear, and that will just put pressure on the [public service].’’

The parent and company owner Malcolm Little appeared at odds in terms of estimating actual passenger numbers, with the parent believing the service was mostly full while the operator said it was more a case of about 40 a day.

Based in Taita, Little said his buses had come in to try to save a few runs around Hutt Valley including at Stokes Valley, Wainuiomata and into Upper Hutt.

‘‘The 954 [Stokes Valley] run was always looking a problem because it only has about 40 students paying $1 a trip.’’

That’s $80 a day return. Take away the bus driver’s wages plus all the other operating costs and ‘‘it’s running at a huge loss’’.

‘‘So we’ve asked if we can get hold of parents and students to try and work something through.’’

‘‘I for one have a budget which includes bus fare for my two teens to get to college. To suddenly have an extra $200 added to their bus fares is way too expensive for me.’’ Parent