line of continuing false stories disparage the value of trolley buses

Media statement - Cr Paul Bruce

A supposed error in Dompost article implied that GWRC ratepayers met the costs of turning the wires on and off.

This was a line of continuing stories which disparage the value of trolley buses and suggests a governance and management failure.

The cost of turning trolley bus wires on and off for road maintenance, made the front page of the Dominion Post on Monday. The story came from an OIA request to Wellington City Council and the reporter contacted Cr Swain for comment.

The story had one error in which it implied that GWRC ratepayers met the costs of turning the wires on and off. This was an assumption made by staff on the paper and was not based on information provided by WCC or comment from Cr Swain.

Other cities are advancing trolley buses and regard them as the most cost effective whole of life electric public transport.

The trolley bus low floor chassis are in excellent condition, power supply and underground cabling need maintenance but at quarter of the cost of complete replacement. 70% of overhead wiring has been completely renewed over recent years.

The decision made by regional councillors to scrap them was a decision based on poor process and wrong information.

The strategic business case for expanding and upgrading the trolley bus network with modern lithium ion batteries for off-line capability and automatic reattachment devices has not been made.

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