InterCity Group invests more than $3.8million in new coach upgrades

Release Date: Tuesday September 23rd, 2008

InterCity Group (NZ) Limited today announced that by the end of the year, the company will have invested more than $3.8million in upgrading its Great Sights and awesomeNZ sightseeing coach fleets with the introduction of eight new vehicles into its fleet.

The coaches are replacing older vehicles as part of InterCity's commitment to using low emission vehicles and ensuring that its customers are able to travel in comfort.

Daniel Rode, sales and marketing manager for InterCity Group (NZ) Limited, said "We are constantly investing in our fleet to ensure that we continue to operate in an environmentally responsible manner.

"The introduction of these eight new coaches means that we are not only continuing to lower our carbon emissions, but that we are providing even greater comfort to our passengers."

The new vehicles have, or will be, introduced across InterCity's network by the end of this year and will include:

Four new coaches being introduced into the Northland region, with three being integrated into the Great Sights / Fullers Bay of Islands fleet for tours to Cape Reinga and the Hokianga , and one into the Great Sights network on the Auckland to the Bay of Islands route

Two new glass roof coaches being introduced into the Great Sights fleet on the Milford Sound Scenic tour route. These vehicles will be equipped with GPS controlled multilingual commentary in Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish.

A new glass roof coach on the awesomeNZ Milford Encounter tour, will enable passengers to fully appreciate the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Fiordland National Park

A new luxury coach introduced into the Great Sights fleet for use on the Mount Cook sightseeing tours.

Rode continued, "Not only do we operate New Zealand's largest coach transportation network, connecting more than 700 destinations nationwide, our sightseeing tours are highly regarded as some of the most popular in the country. "New Zealand has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and it is important to us that our passengers get to enjoy the view in comfort and with professional driver guides that will bring our country to life. With the introduction of these new vehicles into our fleet, our passengers will travel in more comfort than ever."

InterCity Group carries more than 1.4 million passengers nationwide each year and operates more than 160 daily services to more than 700 towns, cities and communities across New Zealand.