ACTION’s Nightrider bus service will be free this year, the ACT government announced. 

The Nightrider will take passengers home from Civic on Friday and Saturday nights over four weekends from December 6 to 21, and on New Year’s Eve, starting at 12.30am and running every 90 minutes until 4.15am.

Territory and Municipal Services minister Shane Rattenbury says the service is being run for free this year as a “trial”.

“This is the first time Nightrider has been free, so we hope to attract new riders to the service and expect higher levels of patronage,” Mr Rattenbury said.

Passengers are encouraged to arrive early to guarantee a seat, but there will be buses on standby to deal with overflows.

“When Canberrans have a night out in Civic this festive season I hope many of them will try leaving their cars at home and will give the free Nightrider bus a go,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“With the money you save on transport, you can buy yourself a kebab. Just make sure you finish it before boarding the bus.”

The Nightrider buses will depart from Platform 7 at the Civic interchange, going to suburbs in Belconnen, Gungahlin, the inner north, inner south, Woden and Tuggeranong, dropping passengers at the bus stop nearest to their home. Each bus will have CCTV facilities and ACTION supervisors will be within the interchange to assist with marshalling.

For more information on the Nightrider, including a downloadable timetable, go to action.act.gov.au.