From Thursday, 29 April, real-time information about bus locations will be available for the Dunedin and Queenstown Orbus networks on the free Transit app and the Otago Regional Council (ORC) website, thanks to GPS devices fitted on every bus.

Real-time bus tracking has been available in Queenstown since 2019, displayed on the ORC website only. Since then, ORC has been working on getting the Dunedin network with its 23 routes and more than 100 buses fitted, at the same time migrating Queenstown to Transit.

This is the first time real-time bus information will be available for Dunedin passengers.

ORC Manager Transport Garry Maloney said real-time tracking was an important addition to public transport in Dunedin.

“Offering passengers the ability to see when their bus is arriving in live, real-time terms will enhance the passenger experience greatly, especially as we move into colder days.

“This technology has been in place across Queenstown’s five routes for a while now, and it’s been received really positively.

“Making that information available via Transit is a step up, as it delivers real-time information more conveniently into the palm of customers’ hands, no matter where they are.”

Users will also be able to save their preferred routes as a favourite to get notifications of service cancellations or disruptions.

“Providing our Orbus information on Transit is the next step in improving our customer service following the introduction of the Bee Card and unlimited Wi-Fi on buses,” Mr Maloney said. 

“Transit is used in over 200 cities around the world and a number of other public transport networks in New Zealand, including some of our fellow Bee Card regions.”

The app is free, easy to use, and available for iPhones and Android devices. As well as real-time bus information, it will offer the ability for users to plan their journey, with step-by-step navigation and timing, and be notified of service disruptions affecting their journey.

“We’re excited to work with the Otago Regional Council and to see more people using Transit as part of their daily routine,” said David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer of Transit.

“Partnering with a single app makes it clear to riders where they can go for information.”

The solar-powered e-stop at Macandrew Bay in Dunedin will also be a test for the real time feed, with a view to sending real time information to the several e-stops at the Dunedin Bus Hub in the future.

More information about Transit can be found on their website: https://transitapp.com/

Real-time bus information will be available on ORC’s website from 30 April, at www.orc.govt.nz/transit_realtime.