Short break then it's bus-iness as usual Inbox

A number of weekly Taranaki bus services will take a break for Christmas but will be back with a hiss and roar from 3 January – and an increasing number of young patrons are expected.



The Inglewood-New Plymouth Thursday run and the South Link Waverley-Hawera, Opunake-Hawera (both Thursdays) and Opunake-New Plymouth (Fridays) services will run as normal this week (20 or 21 December) and on 3 or 4 January, but will be off the road on 27 and 28 December.



The once-a-week bus services are being trialled with support from the Taranaki Regional Council. The Council’s Director-Operations, Rob Phillips, says the South Link services have proved popular in previous school holidays as parents and caregivers have realised they open up new options to keep youthful boredom at bay.



“We expect there’ll be the same increase in young patrons these school holidays, on the South Link services and also on the new Inglewood service, which started operating in November.



“The services do offer an ideal opportunity for young people to get into Hawera or New Plymouth during their holidays.”



South Link and Inglewood-New Plymouth timetables are available at www.trc.govt.nz .



The revamped Citybus services in New Plymouth – also being trialled with Council support – will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day or 2 January, but will otherwise follow a normal timetable. See www.okatobus.co.nz .