Dunedin is the administrative centre for the Otago region and the second largest city on the South Island of New Zealand after Christchurch. It is a harbour city of about 134,000 people, almost one fifth of residents are students. Famously, Dunedin is home to Baldwin Street, which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the steepest street in the world. The first trolleybuses operated in 1950 and by the 1960s the city had 76 trolleybuses, however by 1983 all trolleybuses had gone.
Buses in Dunedin are organised by the Otago Regional Council. A total of 64 buses currently operates on 25 bus routes. Dunedin City Council-owned operator Citibus was the major operator until 2011 when Passenger Transport (New Zealand) purchased Citibus from Dunedin City Holdings, and was subsequently bought by Go Bus. In 2024 the operation is part of Kinetic NZ.
Otago Road Services Ltd. FDN478, MAN SL202 with CWI B57D body, new 1986 as NF2114 to Christchurch Transport Board later Red Bus (a City owned company). Changed registration November 2009. Sold to Otago Heritage Bus Society Incorporated, Dunedin and a later sale to Ferrymead Mens Shed (Canterbury Bus Museum), Christchurch.
In 2011 driving into the city centre from the south, you immediately came across the bus depot which is located at the junction of Princes Street and Melville Street, just south of the city centre and a short distance from the Octagon where most services passed through. One of the few advantages of cruise ships docking in a city is the amount of extra passenger traffic they create: a great benefit to the bus enthusiast as it proved on day two of our visit when vehicles from the second largest operator in the area, Otago Road Services, were out and about.
Passenger Transport Services CHW222, MAN 12.223 with Designline B39D body, new 2004. ex Citibus Ltd, Dunedin and Red Bus Ltd, Christchurch. In 2024 with Kinetic NZ at the Invercargill depot.
Established in 1947, Otago Road Services operated buses commercially and under contract to Otago Regional Council. The private routes that had run since the 1950s from Dunedin to Green Island, Abbotsford and Fairfield were lost in 1991 as a result of tendering by Otago Regional Council who took responsibility for the network of bus services in the late 1980s. Otago Road Services were successfully in regaining some routes in the 2002 tender round, however, were lost to Dunedin City Council-owned Citibus, in 2006 round of tenders. Otago continue to operate a fleet of private hire and school bus vehicles.
2024 update, gathered from local press reports.
The central bus hub, established in 2019, is now located on Great King Street. In 2023 Go Bus were reported to be planning to move the depot from Princes Street to Portsmouth Drive making way for residential development. Go Bus is introducing 16 new buses on urban routes, these will be Volvo B7 with Kiwi Bus Builders bodies. In early February 2024, Ritchies introduced 11 Yutong E10 battery electric buses to its fleet.
Passenger Transport Ltd CHW221, MAN 12.223 with Designline B39D body, new 2004. Ex Citibus, Dunedin and Red Bus Ltd, Christchurch. In 2023 with Kinetic NZ at the Dunedin depot.
Citibus Ltd WA1240, Dennis Dart with Designline B39D body,
new 1997 to Ritchies. Ex Red Bus Ltd, Christchurch. Now sold for non-PSV use.
Line-up at the Dunedin bus depot, located at the junction of Princes Street and Melville Street. Just a short walk from the city centre.
Dunedin bus depot with DZG301, MAN 10.150 with Designline B33D body dating from 1989 for sale. It was sold for non-PSV use. Note the Bristol VRT, registration TQ7480 in the background.
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