Information and updated maps on Canberra’s new and better connected 2019 bus network are now available.

We’ve listened to community feedback and made 37 changes to the 58 routes we released for consultation in June.

The new network has been designed to offer more integrated public transport services and includes:

  • a connected network of ten Rapid routes, including light rail
  • local services to connect people within their district and to Rapid services
  • more trips with greater frequency
  • same weekday and weekend services with extended hours to meet the needs of our growing city.

As part of the new network there will be more customer service officers, increased CCTV cameras, improved lighting and wayfinding in several locations keeping everyone safer.

Bus timetables will be finalised in the coming months with an improved journey planner and full timetable released later in the year before the network starts early in 2019.

Transport Canberra always welcomes feedback on public transport services. You can provide feedback via the Transport Canberra website.

Schools

Students will be able to access a mixture of regular and dedicated school buses. Dedicated school services will typically be shorter, more direct and less complicated in the new network.

The new public transport network includes 222 dedicated school bus services every school day. This is a similar number to today’s network, and 78 more dedicated school services than were included in the consultation network released in June. These services are simpler and easier for students, with most services running both morning and afternoon and using the same route number.

To help keep Canberra students and the community safe there will be CCTV cameras on every bus and at all major interchanges, customer service officers will also be available to help customers at key interchanges, and school crossing supervisors will continue to help students cross busy roads near select schools.

Check out the Transport Canberra for more information on school bus services.

Regions

For a summary of 2019 Bus Network changes in your region:

Bus services in Belconnen will provide frequent, reliable connections to the Belconnen Town Centre from all suburbs in the region, and the Kippax Centre for suburbs in the western part of the region.

Local services have been designed to move you within and across your region, connecting with frequent, direct Rapid services at key locations including town centres. Every local service in Belconnen connects with the Belconnen Town Centre.

The Belconnen Bus Stations will provide convenient connections to multiple Rapid routes, providing access to City, Barton, Russell, Dickson, Fyshwick, Gungahlin and the Canberra International Airport. Kippax provides customers with a connection to the Rapid 2, which services the Belconnen Town Centre, University of Canberra, City, Barton, Kingston and Fyshwick.

What’s changed following consultation?

  • Rapid 4 extended to provide a frequent, direct Rapid service between Belconnen, the City, Woden and Tuggeranong.
  • Rapid 3 extended to provide a direct, frequent service from Belconnen and the City to Brindabella Business Park.
  • Rapid 9 to run via Fern Hill to provide better coverage in Bruce.
  • Changes to local services to provide better coverage for suburbs in south-west Belconnen such as Higgins, Hawker, Scullin and Page.
  • Changes to local services to provide better coverage for suburbs in northern Belconnen such as Melba, Evatt, Spence and Fraser.
  • Route 31 extended to provide a direct service from the Belconnen Town to the City via Lawson, Kaleen, Dickson and Braddon.

New bus network map and more information at transport.act.gov.au

Local services in Gungahlin will provide frequent, reliable connections to the Gungahlin Town Centre from all suburbs in the region, including the introduction of services into Moncrieff, Taylor and Throsby. Local services have been designed to move you within and across your region, connecting with frequent, direct, Rapid services at key locations including town centres.

From the new Gungahlin Bus Station at Gungahlin Place, customers can easily transfer to light rail for high-frequency, high capacity service via Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue to Dickson and Civic or high-frequency Rapid 8 bus services to Belconnen.

What’s changed following consultation?

  • Better connections to Rapid 8 on Gundaroo Drive for customers travelling from suburbs such as Crace or Palmerston.
  • Changes to local services to provide better coverage in Moncrieff, Casey and Gungahlin.
  • Public transport access to Bimberi Youth Justice Centre.

New bus network map and more information at transport.act.gov.au

Bus services in the Inner North will provide frequent, reliable connections to the City, Dickson Interchange and Belconnen Town Centre.

The Light Rail will provide a high capacity, frequent rapid link through the heart of the inner north providing easy access to the City, Dickson, Gungahlin, and key destinations along Northbourne Avenue.

Rapid 9 will provide a direct, frequent east-west spine connecting Watson to Belconnen via Dickson, Lyneham, Fern Hill, the University of Canberra and the Australian Catholic University.

Local services in the north will connect Turner, O’Connor, Braddon, Ainslie, Watson and Lyneham to both the Dickson and City Interchanges where passengers can transfer to Light Rail or bus services to access destinations covering most of Canberra.

Local services will provide access to key employment and retail destinations to the east of the City including Majura Park and the Royal Military College.

What’s changed following consultation?

  • Rapid 3 extended to provide a direct, frequent service from Belconnen and the City to Brindabella Business Park.
  • Route 31 extended to provide a direct service from the Belconnen Town to the City via Lawson, Kaleen, Dickson and Braddon.
  • Changes to local services to provide better coverage and connections to local shops in suburbs such as Lyneham, O’Connor and Reid.
  • Public transport access for Campbell Park.

New bus network map and more information at transport.act.gov.au

Bus services in the Inner South will provide frequent, reliable connections to the City, Woden, Belconnen, Fyshwick, Kingston and Canberra Hospital.

Rapid 2 provides a fast, frequent connection from Belconnen and the City, through to Barton, Kingston and Fyshwick.

Rapid 5 links Forrest and Barton to the City and Woden, and Rapid 6 links Barton, Kingston and Narrabundah with the City, Canberra Hospital and Woden.

Local services provide all suburbs in the region with a connection to the City and Barton, as well as to either Woden or Fyshwick. Connections with Rapid buses services are available at Barton, Woden, Fyshwick, Goyder Drive and the City.

The City will provide connections to a range of Rapid routes, providing access to Belconnen, Weston Creek, Molonglo, Woden, Russell, Barton, Fyshwick and the Canberra International Airport.

What’s changed following consultation?

  • Rapid 5 adjusted to run further along National Circuit to provide better coverage in Forrest, as well as major government departments in Barton.
  • Local routes adjusted in Yarralumla and Deakin.
  • Peak Bus Routes from Tuggeranong to the City via Barton Bus Station.

New bus network map and more information at transport.act.gov.au

Bus services in Tuggeranong will provide frequent, reliable connections to the Tuggeranong Town Centre, the City, Belconnen Town Centre, Woden Town Centre, the Tuggeranong Valley area, Erindale Centre, Lanyon Marketplace and Cooleman Court.

The Tuggeranong Bus Station provides connections to the Rapid 4 service north to Woden, the City and Belconnen. All bus services in the Tuggeranong Valley will connect to the Tuggeranong Bus Station, and most also provide connections to Rapid 5 at Erindale, Calwell or Lanyon bus stations. Rapid 5 provides a fast, frequent link north to Woden, Barton, Russell and the City, and south to Lanyon.

Services through Kambah connect to Cooleman Court where customers can connect to the Rapid 7 direct to the City, and continue to Woden where they can connect to Rapid 4, 5 or 6 to Belconnen, Canberra Hospital, Kingston and Barton.

Residents in the southern suburbs of Tuggeranong can use local services to connect to Rapid 4 or Rapid 5 services at Lanyon or Tuggeranong Town Centre, or can use Peak Bus Routes to get to the City and Inner South from Gordon, Banks and Conder, with additional stops at Lanyon, Calwell and Chisholm.

What’s changed following consultation?

  • Peak Bus Routes to the City and Barton from south Tuggeranong suburbs such as Gordon, Conder and Banks, and also stopping at Park and Rides in Calwell and Chisholm.
  • Rapid 4 extended to provide a frequent, direct Rapid service between Belconnen, the City, Woden and Tuggeranong.
  • Rapid 4 now terminates at Tuggeranong Town Centre, instead of Lanyon, with local routes adjusted to provide services to the town centre.
  • Changes to local services in Gowrie, Kambah and Bonython.

New bus network map and more information at transport.act.gov.au

Local bus services in Woden, Weston Creek and the Molonglo Valley will provide regular connections to the Woden Town Centre from all suburbs in the region.

The Woden Bus Station will provide connections to frequent, reliable Rapid routes servicing the City, Barton, Russell, Canberra Hospital and Kingston.

All bus routes in Weston Creek also provide links to both Cooleman Court where passengers can transfer to Rapid 7 to the City.

The developing area of Molonglo Valley has a direct Rapid route to the City, as well as local service to Cooleman Court and Woden Town Centre. Note the Rapid route will initially run at a reduced frequency compared to other Rapid services until development provides an improved customer base. Local services are expected to be improved as the population grows.

What’s changed following consultation?

  • Rapid 7 extended to Chapman to provide better coverage in Duffy and Holder, as well as reducing the need for buses to terminate at Cooleman Court.
  • All local buses from Weston Creek and Molonglo start or end at Woden Town Centre.
  • Rapid 6 terminates at Woden, as frequent local services will run between Cooleman Court and Woden.
  • Changes to local routes to improve coverage in suburbs such as Weston, Duffy, Holder, Lyons and Denman Prospect.

New bus network map and more information at transport.act.gov.au

For more information on regional bus services, check out the Transport Canberra website.