Trolley bus services will not operate at the weekend in Wellington until 2011 at the earliest.
The electric network of overhead wires which powers the trolley buses is a far worse condition than anyone had realised, according to the Wellington Regional Council.
A new maintenance crew for the weekend services would be required, and would cost up to $750,000 a year.
The council's Transport and Access Committee chairperson, Peter Glensor, says at the moment the costs cannot be justified and diesel-fuelled buses must remain in use.
The operator, NZ Bus, has ordered 60 new trolley buses, 47 of which are already in operation.
Mr Glensor says the council will not introduce a weekend trolley bus service until a contract for the overhead lines is renewed or re-tendered in two years time.
