Summary: These are good times to own a bus company in Wellington. One company, Infratil, owns more than 90% of the bus market here. Whenever the regional council puts up a tender for a new bus service, there's only ever one bidder. It's a virtual transport monopoly and Wellington's ratepayers are paying up to 20% more than they should be to subsidise our bus services.<br><br> When Greater Wellington recently announced their intentions to hold their first ever competitive tender in the Hutt Valley, Infratil announced plans to register their own service in the same area. Their move, which for reasons that will become clear, undermines the tender. Is this monopoly behaviour from our bus provider, Infratil? I talked to Green Party transport spokesperson Jeanette Fitzsimons to find out.
