FOLLOWING months of complaints from Canberra bus users, the ACT government has announced an increase in weekday, weekend and school bus services. 

After listening to “issues raised” by commuters, Travel Minister Chris Steel has announced nine changes to the bus network including increased weekend services on Saturdays and better connections during weekdays.

Other changes announced include faster services to Civic from central Tuggeranong, more frequent buses from Woden to the Civic, a new Route 59 connecting Barton and Russell from Woden and Civic, direct local services from Tuggeranong to Woden via the Canberra Hospital, direct local services from Palmerston, Crace, Nicholls and Casey to Belconnen, improved services for Giralang, Kaleen and McKellar, and better access to Mitchell.

Mr Steel says the update is estimated to begin on April 28 subject to consultation currently taking place with the workforce to finalise driver shifts.

It is expected the new timetable will be released around mid-March.

As for changes to school services, Mr Steel says detailed timetables and other information will be provided to school communities ahead of the new changes commencing.

Following the announcement of the updates bus services, shadow transport minister Candice Burch says questions still remain around driver availability and reliability for weekend shifts.

“Canberrans have suffered through ten months of transport chaos, with longer commute times, more service changes, and far fewer weekend services,” Miss Burch says.

“The minister [is also] is yet to confirm whether dedicated school bus services will return.”

While the Canberra Liberals welcome the changes announced today (February 5), Miss Burch says these changes are simply fixing problems that the ACT government created.

“Prior to rolling out this network, the ACT government held over 12 months of consultation and were inundated with complaints,” she says.

“Now, the Minister cannot even bring himself to apologise to Canberrans about the chaos and disrespect he has been responsible for.”