Tranzit Group Explained

Tranzit Group
Parent:	Snelgrove family
Commenced:	1925
Headquarters:	Masterton, Wairarapa
Service Area:	New Zealand
Depots:	7
Fleet:	662 (August 2018)
Operator:	Cross Country Rentals Hammonds Wellington Tours Hawke's Bay Peugeot, Suzuki & Citroën InterCity (46%) Pacific Tourways Auckland Tranzit Coachlines Tranzit InterCity Tranzit Tours Tranzurban Wellington Tranzurban Auckland
Website:	www.tranzit.co.nz

The Tranzit Group is a New Zealand, family owned transport and tourism company that operates buses nationally. It was founded by Albert Snelgrove in Wairarapa as Grey Bus Service. It became Blue Bus Service (with a livery change) in the early 1950s and then Tranzit Coachlines in 1985.^[1] It has a 46% shareholding in InterCity.^[2]

Urban services

Tranzit operates urban services in Auckland, New Plymouth, Waikato, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Wairarapa, Wellington and Hutt Valley. In 2018 under the brand name Tranzurban, it began operating 60 percent of the Metlink bus network under contract to Greater Wellington Regional Council. This includes delivering urban services in Wairarapa, Hutt Valley and Wellington city. Tranzurban purchased 225 Euro 6 diesel buses, which meet the highest global emission standards, and 10 double deck electric (EVDD) buses, the first in the Southern Hemisphere. This fleet has been running successfully since, with innovations made to the EVDDs. This fleet has incrementally grown to 42 electric buses, after Tranzurban confirmed in June 2020 it will incrementally add 31 more new EVDDs. This will help Wellington achieve its target of carbon neutrality by 2030. In 2021, Tranzit converted a diesel double decker to electric in Masterton.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

As part of a reorganisation of Auckland's northern bus network on the North Shore, "Tranzurban Auckland" became the contracted operator of the newly designated NX2 services (formerly the 881 route) on the Northern Busway from 30 September 2018.^[7]

Fleet

As of January 2024, Tranzit Group operates more than 2000 vehicles nationwide, including a growing fleet of electric buses. These vehicles represent some of New Zealand's most well known travel and transport brands owned by Tranzit Group including: Cross Country Rentals, Tranzit Coachlines, Tranzit Tours, Pacific Tourways Limited, Tranzurban Wellington, Hutt Valley & Auckland, Rite Price Rentals and Maugers Rentals. Tranzit Group is also part owner of Intercity.^[8] For the Wellington contract, 114 Optare MetroCitys will be purchased.^{[9] [10] [11]}

In Wellington, the company operates 43 electric double decker buses on urban routes. They have also introduced 100% electric bus fleet into Palmerston North in early 2024 in partnership with Horizons Regional Council ^{[12] [13]} An additional 31 double deck electric buses are expected to be in service by 2022.^{[14] [15]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Tranzit Group . Tranzit Group . 2 November 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231019061240/https://tranzit.co.nz/the-tranzit-group . 19 October 2023.
2. https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/2060513/detail InterCity Holdings Limited
3. Web site: Tranzurban To Deliver 31 New Double Deck Electric Buses To Its Wellington Fleet Scoop News. 7 August 2020. 17 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200817164048/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2006/S00639/tranzurban-to-deliver-31-new-double-deck-electric-buses-to-its-wellington-fleet.htm. live.
4. https://www.metlink.org.nz/news/brand-new-buses-headed-for-wellington/ Brand new buses headed for Wellington
5. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11850689 Infratil loses big chunk of Wellington council bus contract
6. https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1705/tranzit-group-scoops-nz-tender NZ Bus contract reshuffle
7. Compare:Web site: About Us Tranzurban . 2018 . Tranzurban . 23 July 2018 . Tranzurban is the newest addition to Tranzit Group and will operate a part of the new North Shore bus network from September 2018 in collaboration with Auckland Transport. . 23 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180723122726/http://auckland.tranzurban.co.nz/about-us . live .
8. Web site: Tranzit Group. Australian Bus Fleet Lists. 18 August 2018. 18 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818115237/http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nz.php?search=TZT. live.
9. https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1709/optare-announce-114-bus-deal Optare announce 114 bus deal
10. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-41353399 Optare gets £21m bus order for New Zealand
11. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/regional/optare-wins-21m-order-to-supply-114-buses-to-new-zealand-operator-1-8766029 Optare wins £21m order to supply 114 buses to New Zealand operator
12. https://www.horizons.govt.nz/news/palmerston-north-to-have-the-first-fully-electric
13. News: Fully-electric double-decker buses hit Wellington's streets for the first time. George. Damian. 5 July 2018. The Dominion Post. Fairfax NZ. 18 August 2018. 18 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818115423/https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/105264351/fullyelectric-doubledecker-buses-hit-wellingtons-streets-for-the-first-time. live.
14. Web site: Double-decker damage could cost Wellington ratepayers 'seven figures' to fix. George. Damian. 1 November 2017. Stuff.co.nz. 18 August 2018. 18 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818120925/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/98431614/doubledecker-damage-could-cost-wellington-ratepayers-seven-figures-to-fix. live.
15. Web site: Tranzurban To Deliver 31 New Double Deck Electric Buses To Its Wellington Fleet Scoop News. 7 August 2020. 17 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200817164048/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2006/S00639/tranzurban-to-deliver-31-new-double-deck-electric-buses-to-its-wellington-fleet.htm. live.