Ritchies Transport Holdings Ltd was established in 1972 and describes itself on its website as "the largest privately owned bus and coach transport operator in New Zealand" with a fleet of "over 600" vehicles spread across depots nationwide.

It is a part-owner of the Intercity and Newmans coach lines. Intercity Holdings Limited is a passenger transport and tourism company and operates New Zealand's largest coach transportation network as well as ferry and cruise businesses

Ritchies' website says Ritchies was "formed in Temuka 70 years ago by John Ritchie (Senior) and is still owned by the Ritchie family. Temuka is a town on New Zealand 's Canterbury Plains, 15 kilometres north of Timaru and 142 km south of Christchurch. " and that its head office "was located in Timaru but at the beginning of December 2003 relocated to Christchurch. Christchurch (Ōtautahi The largest City in the South Island, it is also the second largest city and third largest urban area of New Zealand " The company "expanded into the North Island 20 years ago and now has a large operation in Auckland in addition to branches in Rotorua, Helensville, Dargaville and Ruakaka. The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country Rotorua is a city on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand, and Rotorua Helensville is a Town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 40 kilometres northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of Dargaville is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the bank of the Northern Wairoa River in the Northland region Ruakaka is a small township in the North of New Zealand approximately 30 kilometres South of Whangarei. "

Long-distance services

see main article Intercity (New Zealand)

Tourism services

Richies operates coach services for several package tour operators. Intercity Holdings Limited is a passenger transport and tourism company and operates New Zealand's largest coach transportation network as well as ferry and cruise businesses In British English and Australian English, the term coach is used to refer to a large motor vehicle for conveying passengers A package holiday or package tour consists of Transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a Tour operator.

Urban services (past and present)

passengers boarding a Northern Express service on the Northern Busway, Auckland operated by Ritchies Coachlines

passengers boarding a Northern Express service on the Northern Busway, Auckland operated by Ritchies Coachlines

• Auckland

Ritchies main urban bus operations are in Auckland operating out of depots in Swanson and Albany servicing West Auckland including Helensville and the North Shore. Brisbane also has a Northern Busway presently under construction Brisbane also has a Northern Busway presently under construction The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country Ritchies also operates high-speed services on the Northern Busway on Auckland's North Shore. Bus rapid transit ( BRT) is a broad term given to a variety of transportation systems that through improvements to infrastructure vehicles and scheduling attempt to use Brisbane also has a Northern Busway presently under construction Geography North Shore is bounded by Rodney District to the north Waitemata Harbour to the south and the Rangitoto Channel

• Blenheim

Ritchies operate the local bus service in Blenheim under contract to the Marlborough District Council. History The sheltered coastal bays of Marlborough supported a small Māori population possibly as early as the 12th century. Geography Marlborough's geography can be roughly divided into four sections There are two loops that service the town.

• Timaru and Temuka

Ritchies operated four Timaru routes from the 1990s until January 2007 under contract to Environment Canterbury. The New Zealand region of Canterbury (Waitaha is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains Ritchies still operate the Temuka-Timaru service. Temuka is a town on New Zealand 's Canterbury Plains, 15 kilometres north of Timaru and 142 km south of Christchurch.

• Christchurch

With deregulation of bus services Ritchies entered the Christchurch urban market with a number of routes using various buses purchased from other companies, including the ARA, Invercargill City Transport, Timaru City Transport and New Plymouth City Buses. Christchurch (Ōtautahi The largest City in the South Island, it is also the second largest city and third largest urban area of New Zealand In January 1997 Ritchies sold it's Christchurch urban contracts to the then Christchurch Transport Ltd but retained ownership of the buses passed onto CTL.

• Dunedin

Ritchies has operated urban services in Dunedin from time to time; none at present. Dunedin (dəˈneɪdɪn) Ōtepoti in Maori is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the region of

• Rotorua

External links

• Company website
• Intercity website
• Newmans website

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