Commuters in the ACT capital face longer journey times and fewer direct services under a significant overhaul of Canberra's bus network, designed to combat expected disruptions from major city roadworks.
Major Service Cuts to Prioritise Punctuality
Transport Canberra has released updated timetables, set to commence on February 2, 2026, which slash more than 180 weekday bus services. The drastic measure is a direct response to projected traffic congestion stemming from the long-term closures on the Commonwealth Avenue bridge for essential works.
Despite the inclusion of a dedicated northbound bus lane on the bridge, transport officials anticipate significant flow-on delays across the network. "Commuters are encouraged to travel outside peak times, allow extra time for their trip or consider other ways to travel to the city," Transport Canberra advised in a public statement.
The most impacted passengers will be those travelling from West Belconnen suburbs to the city during the morning peak, who may need to allow an extra 20 minutes for their journey. This increase is due to a fundamental restructuring of key rapid routes.
Route Restructuring: Fewer Direct Services, More Transfers
Under the new plan, the high-frequency Rapid routes 2 and 3 will now terminate at the Belconnen Interchange. Passengers from suburbs like Fraser and Spence, previously served by these direct routes, will need to transfer onto new local services, routes 12 and 13, to complete their trip into the city.
The government argues this decoupling is necessary for reliability. If a rapid service is delayed in the congested city centre, it will no longer hold up passengers waiting in suburban areas, as local routes can continue running to their own schedule.
Transport Minister Chris Steel acknowledged the disruption, stating, "I acknowledge that it is going to be incredibly disruptive for Canberrans while the federal government's bridge works are underway." He emphasised the goal was to deliver a reliable bus network during the construction period.
Practical examples from the new timetables illustrate the impact:
- An afternoon trip from the City Interchange to Fraser West, which took 49 minutes, will now take just under an hour, including a 10-minute stopover in Belconnen.
- A morning commute from Spence to the City could see a six-minute increase, assuming a swift one-minute transfer at Belconnen.
Community Reaction and Future Reviews
The service reductions have drawn criticism from community advocates and political opponents. Greens deputy leader Jo Clay, whose Ginninderra electorate covers West Belconnen, labelled the cutting of rapid routes as a "broken promise" from the government.
"Swapping buses is challenging for people with disability, mobility needs, parents with young children and shift workers," Ms Clay said. She also noted the decision contradicted Labor's election promise to add a new rapid route for the growing Strathnairn area.
Amy Jelacic, Chair of the Public Transport Association of Canberra, stressed the importance of the cuts remaining temporary. "It is vital that the government sticks to its commitment to revise the network based on actual travel time data," Dr Jelacic said, warning against the cuts becoming "the new normal."
In response to these concerns, Transport Canberra has committed to a review. Officials stated they would assess the network once "real-world impacts are known and traffic has adjusted," with a further update planned for the second half of 2026.
Some additions accompany the cuts. The network will gain four extra dedicated school services, and timings have been adjusted for 51 schools, prompting officials to urge parents and students to check schedules before Term 1. Furthermore, weekday rapid services (Routes 5 and 6, extended to Westfield Belconnen) will run every 15 minutes until 7:30pm. Weekend services remain largely unchanged.
