Moving about on city transport

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 45

Moving about on city transport

:Anyone who has spent some years in Christchurch will know of the changes which have taken place in the city transport. 1 Remember the old trams? It was great taking a| tram ride :along |he waterfront on the Sumner route. The Cashmere ride was not so good, however, because there >were tirries when the passengers wondered- if the tram would niake it up .Hackthorne Road. ’- | ' Much of the tramway was single track which sometimes meant a wait at a crossing loop while a tram arrived from .the’ opposite, direction. 1 A lot has already been writen about Chijisfchurch’s old trams and some of them, along with those from other citys, have been immaculately restored at Ferrymead. The Christchurch Transport Board has seen many changes, I but some of the more - recent changes are possibly of the greatest interest, [ As with most other organisations, the C.T.B. just seemed to exist Tor many years doing I an ordinary, but necessary job. taking people ibetween the suburbs and [the city .centre. Now, with so much capital invested I; in

i I I ’ I I’' | ' vehicles and staff, there is a [desire to get the best use and; return from [the investment. There. -are now three daily Discover Christchurch tours; [a[ twohpur Itpur of the city and stibuijbs,' a half-day tour of the Port Hills and Lyttelton Harbour, and a halfday wildlife tour to Orana Bark, 11 [ The charges for tours are very reasonable and family [tickets offer: additional savings on the two half-day tours. I: j’Thle Success of local tours' encouraged' the C.T.B. to 'expand into out-of-town tours. These now run 'on; a regular ! timetable to Loburn, .-Akaroa, Hamper Springs, and Larcomt> Wines. [ l| p ['For I these Tours, the C.T.B. ■ purchased two M.A.N. air-conditioned tour I coaches [which are also (available for charter to any South Island destination. I For those who wish to Take! themselves on. a tour ojf Christchurch, a day pass! can be good : value and i there is no shortage of destinations. j Lyttelton is an obvious choice, (usually best in the ! morning), and the Takahe on Cashmere Hills is another interesting destination. [ i [' |i One i could also go[ to

Sumner, | I Ferrymead, RangibraJ or the e|xcrillent Wigram museum. Day passes can! be used all week-end;arid after [9 a.m. on week days. ||! I Perhaps someone could run a competition to see |iow many! destinations could be reached Within a Bay. with a [pass? | |i ■ | At present, the [C.T.B. puns 202 - vehicles.; The latest is a Mazda! 13-seater mini-coach [which will be used for tours. ||i ■ ' [ 15 After, a day’s work in tfte city a ride hoirie on put of the new M.A.N. buses can be a pleasant [experience. These vehicles offer a good view through large tinted' windows and the air suspension provides ’a smooth [ride. . ! : : :

| The M.A.N. SL2o2.is the [choice of vehicle for the ■ 1980 s and beyond. At present, there are 28 of these [vehicles in Christchurch iand within two years there will be 58 on timetable and I charter services.

M.A.N.I is an abbreviation for the West German company! I Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg. - During [recent years, the history of Christchurch transport has been recorded in a series of booklets , titled, “On the Move.” | I