Customer demand is driving the addition of a new peak hour express bus service between Te Puke and Tauranga starting today.

The service has been upgraded after passengers complained to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council of being unable to board the current 7.45am and 5.40pm bus because of overloading.

The express service will travel direct from Te Puke to Tauranga and return offering an additional morning and afternoon travel option for Te Puke residents, says Regional Council Transport Policy Manager, Garry Maloney.

The cost of the additional services will be met in the current budget by reallocating a bus from an under patronised service to run the two new Te Puke express services.

The council's public transport committee chair Lyall Thurston says the Committee was delighted to approve the recommendation and its reflects its commitment to being responsive to community needs.

'The new additional Te Puke services is a win-win for all, and we are committed to working with our transport partners such as the NZ Transport Agency and the local authorities to ensure we continue to meet the needs of Bay of Plenty communities through collaboration and engagement,” says Lyall.

A large number of passengers using Route 221 are tertiary students studying in Tauranga, but living in Te Puke. The new services will continue through to the start of the new Bayhopper contracts in mid 2018.

To find out more about the new Route 221 express service travelling between Te Puke and Tauranga including when the service will commence, please call call 0800 4 BAYBUS(0800 4 229 287) or visit www.baybus.co.nz