Current status of this website

Hi All!

It's been a while since I've properly gone through and updated the front page for my blog.
For all those who have seen the previous message, yes the bad news still stands. 

I've decided that my blog no longer needs to be a place for me to ramble on and make useless posts, and am therefore retiring most sections of the blog. 

I don't have the same time on my hands that I used to (balancing a job and other commitments isn't too fun these days), so I've had to discontinue my front page stuff.

My activity will be continued on the various Facebook bus groups I am apart of, and I should be picking up my activity on my own Facebook page for public transport photography, so don't fret! If you're here for OMSI downloads and such, they'll still be here, and I will be adding more.
 

The Good News:

As mentioned above, I still plan to add more OMSI downloads and maintain the ones I have. This won't be at any sort of lightning fast pace releases or anything, but I will continue with this. Pretty much most people who visit this site these days will probably be visiting for OMSI stuff, so you're in good hands still!

Anyway, I hope that this doesn't come as too much of a shock (heck, just look at the last published post date and you'll see how long it's been since I've posted proper), but I do encourage you to still look around at the past posts for a good laugh and feel free to look at my first and third-party OMSI content!

Kind Regards,

-techladdie :)

This has been sitting on my hard drive as a project since the end of last year so yeah... I was lazy 😂

Metlink Rte. 83 timelapse | Courtenay Pl » Eastbourne | NZ Bus #1475

Time to show off some stuff I've been working on:

Not much to see here, other than a few repaints:
*mumbles something about needing to use the blog more often*

[Ramble]: Some people just can't accept it...

There are always going to be those in life who, no matter how hard you try, will be steadfast, remaining resolute in their opinion that certain things shouldn't be done for example.

I'll start this off with a bit of an FYI: I do not have any family or personal connection myself with any company in this article - with that said, yes I quite like NZ Bus, that's what happens when they were your public transport provider for over a decade. The same can be said for people like Alex Ellis, who are quite fond of Mana/Newlands. I have no issues with people preferring one company over another in this situation.

There is however, one thing I don't like. Consistent bagging of one company for no real reason other than "it's my way or the highway" type of attitude.

And that is what I see in one of my Facebook groups, albeit from only a few people.

Sick of the problems, or sick of hearing about them...

Please note that this is only my opinion, and is not one that reflects any person or company.

58 Cancelled buses... On a Sunday... Dave Armstrong...


The Stuff article in question, which can be viewed here, was posted on a Facebook Group I am part of, regarding Wellington buses. The conversation about it consisted of some people who were rather tired of hearing about the failures of the bus network. And rightly so; the amount of media attention this has had since it's creation is large, and the media, with people like Dave Armstrong with Stuff, or on wellington.scoop.

This is where I come in, with my opinions and all, so brace yourselves!

One person was rather miffed that Tranzurban were being beaten by the media based on one single day, of what I call "Failure".

If we were to read this article knowing nothing about what Commuters have had to put up with over the last nearly 12 Months, we would be wondering as to what all the fuss is about.

But the problem is that we didn't have our blinders on, like the GWRC did and still does.

We were affected first hand, like the drivers, by this new network and it's rollout.

A collection of the latest OMSI Videos uploaded to my channel

Regional Council says it would do little differently if it could roll out Wellington's new bus network again

DomPost article Titled:

"Regional Council says it would do little differently if it could roll out Wellington's new bus network again"

This will be short and brief.The GWRC has, as people have pointed out, proven themselves incompetent with regards to the handling of this fiasco and fuck-up.

Having Councillors responsible for the transport system NOT SHOWING UP TO MEETINGS because it was too "toxic" is inexcusable. Having the nerve to blame an operator as the main reason why the network is failing, rather than themselves, is ridiculous.

To then go on and say that if they were able to wind back the clock and start again, that they would change very little, shows the traveling public and the residents in the Greater Wellington area, that this regional council gives exactly ZERO fucks about the people who rely on public transport to get to and from work, home, school and other places. These people are the ones with the power to vote these ignorant shits out of council come local govt election time next year.


I GUARANTEE THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO VOTE WILL WANT LAIDLAW, DONALDSON AND CO GONE! I WILL BE ONE OF THESE VOTERS

Tramways Union News: Wellington bus drivers vote to strike!

::News from the Tramways Union Wellington Branch::

Hundreds of Wellington region bus drivers have voted for an ongoing strike at any and all of the region’s public transport bus companies that have not settled a collective employment agreement by October 23.

Drivers also raised a unanimous vote of no confidence in the Greater Wellington Regional Council, and called for a commissioner to take over the region’s public transport.

Tramways Union Secretary Kevin O’Sullivan says the strike is a matter of last resort. “We have been trying to get Tranzit to negotiate for months and still have no offer from them or any indication they are taking the bargaining seriously. This is why we have now had to set a deadline.

“Meanwhile the GWRC has been telling us everything is fine and refusing to hold their contractors to account for their lack of good faith. It’s become clear that the Council has no intention of fixing the industrial dispute or the public transport system. They need to have it taken away from them before they make matters worse.

“There is no way that Wellington’s bus system can be fixed without a fair deal for drivers. Until this is settled the driver shortage will continue, the industrial action will continue, and drivers will continue to have no reason to even try to make this broken system work.

“We don’t want to make life harder for Wellington commuters, the council has already done enough of that, but if we don’t take a stand things are only going to get worse for everyone. I think the people of Wellington understand that which is why our members have had so much support.”
​
Companies facing industrial action are: Tranzurban Wellington and Hutt (Tranzit), Uzabus, and NZ Bus.

- Tramways Union Wellington Branch
http://tramways.weebly.com/union-news--updates/wellington-bus-drivers-vote-to-strike

Livestream Announcement! OMSI 2 » 22/09/2018

Need I Say More?

Chris Laidlaw - The facial expressions and body language of a man who doesn't care

Oh, and that last image has Darren Ponter, the spokesperson for public transport I believe (scribbling on the paper in the background), who describes the operational part of the network as a "failure" but still says that the rest of the system is fine...

Seven Weeks In » The Bus Network In Wellington.

No surprise that it is still broken... Buses disappearing from RTI displays, buses late, cancelled etc.

I went around Wellington on Sunday and I think the only bus on time was the number 3 from it's starting point at Tirangi Rd!

After reading an opinion piece from Dave Armstrong on stuff titled:
"Dave Armstrong: My free plan for better Wellington buses"

I went to the comments, as I usually do, to see what people think.

Some were supportive of Dave's idea of not paying for any bus later than 10 minutes, whilst some were not.

Obviously Dave's idea is not to go at the drivers, rather at the council, as i'm pretty sure that all the farebox revenue goes straight to GWRC at the end of the day.

One comment stuck out for me:

Metlink Route 1 Timelapse - Wellington (Hutt Rd) » Johnsonville » BCI Citirider

I was able to film part of my journey to Johnsonville. Hope you enjoy this ride on a Tranzurban BCI Citirider! Music: Apperture by Unison [NCS Release]

Arma 3 Exile Montage Ep. 1

Site Update: 09/08/2018

I've removed the two images in honour of  Go Wellington and Valley Flyer, since it's been over one month since contract change in Wellington, and more than two in the Hutt.

I've also added, above the searchbar on the right, a little list, that I will populate, with upcoming events, such as livestreams, bus and train spotting, and other things that may be of interest to people.

Bus Spotting In Wellington Region: Friday 27th July

I've wanted to get some pictures of the wellington bus scene after contract change for a while now, and according to the weather people, friday is the best day to do so.

Also wanted to ride a Double Decker bus as well :)

The beginning of the end for Snapper on the Airport Flyer?

This is most likely the beginning of the end for Snapper.

I received an email from Snapper (Twice actually) with the subject "Changes here, there and everywhere"

I read the email and saw the usual gibberish. Bus route changes. Fares going up etc etc.

Then I got to a section and had to pause for a second...

Friday the 13th of July 2018 - Into the windy capital I go...

With camera in hand, I'll be riding as many buses as I can, before contracts change.

I Haven't actually ridden any GO Wellington bus from memory. Combine that with no knowledge of the routes, this day will be interesting. A lot of planning will be required just so I can get back to the damn train station!

This will most likely be the last time I'll be able to ride a MAN 11.190 (Unless I head to Auckland, even then it's not guaranteed I'll find one). Whilst I had planned for my trip to Upper Hutt to be the last time to ride one of those troopers, I still miss seeing them around, with musical ZF gearboxes and loud engines, wearing purple and orange...

I'll have to admit, being a Nui boy born and bred, I never really appreciated GO Wellington, as they never served any lines I took, so that's why I can appear to hold VF to a higher tier than GW (Everyone ought to know what the acronyms are right?)

With that said, I'll be looking forward to the experience!

Friday 15th June 2018 - The day I go and photograph and ride the crap out of the Valley Flyer fleet.

[UPDATE TO THE UPDATE - 18/06/2018]: I just went down to visit the Wainuiomata Bus Depot, Expecting to see lime green blue and yellow buses. What I saw was locked gates protecting what was left of the Wainuiomata Valley Flyer fleet. I will take my camera down on Wednesday and photograph as many buses as possible!


Another update: I saw a valley flyer bus leaving Wainuiomata so I could be too late as they might all be gone by tomorrow... We'll have to wait and see...
Yup, No buses left :( Although there was a bit of a purple rag, reminiscent of the purple buses that once were.

[UPDATE]: Lower Hutt Pictures have been posted. Ran out of time tonight to post the ones from Upper Hutt: https://www.flickr.com/photos/techladdie/