ORC New Year surge: Buses ramp up for 7,000+ cruise visitors’ arrival

Friday, December 22, 2023

ORC ‘s Lorraine Cheyne announces extra bus services at Port Chalmers on New Year, catering to cruise ship arrivals during the holiday season.

Lorraine Cheyne, the Transport Manager at ORC, announced that the anticipated arrival of cruise ships on New Year would mean a particularly active day for bus services at Port Chalmers. To accommodate the influx, ORC plans to increase the number of bus services to and from the port. A special booth will be set up at the Port Chalmers Library for cruise ship passengers to purchase round-trip tickets.

Cheyne highlighted that the additional buses would be scheduled to coincide with the ships’ arrival and departure times. Despite these efforts, she cautioned that passengers might face queues and longer waiting times due to the New Year holiday season’s high demand. She urged understanding, noting that ORC is committed to serving both locals and tourists.

For those returning to Port Chalmers, the recommended pickup point is outside the Centre City New World on Cumberland Street. Bus drivers have been instructed to ensure space is available for passengers boarding at subsequent stops.

However, Cheyne noted that the extra bus services are contingent on the cruise ships’ arrival. If cancellations occur, the normal Orbus holiday service will operate without the additional buses.

While cruise passengers have the option of using private buses provided by their ships, many opt for the public bus service. ORC is working in collaboration with Port Otago and the West Harbour Community Board throughout the cruise season to manage the situation effectively.

For the latest updates, Cheyne advises the public to use the Transit App, follow Orbus Dunedin’s Facebook page, or visit the ORC website.

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