Network Updates 2026

[L94UBbusfan]

They're really taking this stag/artic use during peak to heart. Tuggeranong bike users are going to have to suffer now with up to an hour (or sometimes longer) waits between racked buses on the R4 and R5 between 6-10am, this is horrendous.

Capacity wise, having the R4/5 as majority STAG/Artic is great, but geez I forgot the STAGs don't have bike racks. I looked into it and if you have a bike and want to catch the R5 northbound, there isn't a single bus with a bike rack between 6:15-8am    the R4 northbound is just as bad, no racked buses between 7:03-8:39am. Although I suppose the R5 isn't as bad as you can get an 80/81 to Tuggeranong then get an R4.

Went out today and I definitely have some thoughts about this updated timetable. Firstly there were several buses which got stuck in traffic at Radford (including mine), which led to the following services being very late, one in particular was 15 minutes late and had the following service overtake it. While the traffic isn't the timetable's fault, it is the timetable's fault that the runs are bundled so tightly that there's less than 10 minutes between route and it isn't allowing for traffic (outside of the bridge works, which seems like the allocated time is pretty accurate). Secondly from what I saw today and what I've been seeing on the Anytrip capacity indicators most Gungahlin loop services are packed, mainly because they've cut a service per hour on each of the loops. Not sure about the loops elsewhere, but I'd assume its the same

[CBRFlyer]

Radford will be a first day of school issue rather than an ongoing issue, I believe a lot of private schools used a traditional new students on Monday and returning students Tuesday rather than the government schools Friday/monday 

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Yeah man look at all those stags, sheesh. My worst nightmare from my CIT days has finally come true, I'm getting PTSD from the day I had to wait 45 minutes for a racked bus - although that was back when artics didn't have them either. When is Lightrail coming to Tuggeranong again?

I arrived at the Learmonth Dr stop (#2) this evening to see the bike rack being full for the first time in like ever... I wonder if it was because the people who put them there would usually take their bike to work, have a cycle during their break and then ride home but couldn't because their normal routine has now being screwed over by a dramatic increase of rackless buses... time will tell I guess.


So I'm seeing now that, yes, I was wrong to think that the whole network would be affected (I mean how was I supposed to know that without seeing it in action...), I will need to make another adjustment to my passenger warning or remove it depending on the other thing I'm seeing. So after yesterday's newsworthy catastrophe, I've noticed a ton of rapids throughout the day running 15-30 minutes early. Did they after all that planning end up unintentionally allocating way too much additional time to get through the Commonwealth Avenue stuff or is it the crappy gps that's still acting up?

So far I'm very displeased with the changes that affect me, mostly because of the reduced R4 frequency - the last change where it becomes a non-rapid after 7pm was annoying enough to deal with, so now it's weekend frequency but with stags and artics. It's only day 2 and I've already noticed significant connection issues that are going to force me to rethink everything/leave home earlier again... again.

[L94UBbusfan]

So far I'm very displeased with the changes that affect me, mostly because of the reduced R4 frequency - the last change where it becomes a non-rapid after 7pm was annoying enough to deal with, so now it's weekend frequency but with stags and artics. It's only day 2 and I've already noticed significant connection issues that are going to force me to rethink everything/leave home earlier again... again.

I'm also extremely unhappy with the changes made, while yes the bus allocations are much better for me, the frequencies definitely aren't. I just realised if I want to get to where I'm going on time, I have to leave home at 7:15am (used to be able to leave as late as 8am before btw) because the 26 afterwards is always over 5 minutes late and packed, meaning I miss the R8 connection. But if I leave at 7:15, then I arrive in Gungahlin way too early, I really can't win.

Today the 26 I caught was probably the most packed and overcrowded bus I've ever been on. I hopped on at the Gundaroo Dr stop and the bus was relatively full (standing room only). I thought "hey they've cut frequencies, it's a busy time, fair enough the bus is almost full". That was until we reached JPC, and a whole other bus load boarded an already standing room only bus. The driver actually had to stop people boarding at Casey, the bus couldn't physically fit another human on board it was THAT full. I had people pushing up against me on both sides. I wondered why they were all on my bus, then I realised the 26 before departs 1 minute after school ends, so all the students are forced to wait nearly 45 minutes for the next bus, because someone thought it was a good idea to time the buses so that the JPC students would miss the 26 before by a minute, and cut the dedicated 26 that started at JPC. Not to mention the bus ended up around 15 minutes late. I'm considering putting in a complaint to TC about this because it is disgraceful that an unsafe amount of passengers are forced to cram onto one standard bus because of the horrible planning, not to mention the risks of leaving patrons behind forcing them to wait another 40 minutes for a bus (if they're lucky, because half of the 25/26 services are running quite late because the services are packed because they've cut frequencies). This service needs an artic at least, if not another extra dedicated JPC 26 school bus like what was in place before, because this is not ok.

[Bus 400]

This is why most Canberrans drive. No point when they play with the timetable every year.

I'm seeing an increase in cars coming from Belconnen, Inner North, Gungahlin & Monaro Highway heading towards the National Triangle & Russell Offices. Make of that as you will. 

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

So true. They keep saying they want to encourage people to stop using cars and use the buses with each new network, but people won't when they keep doing sh*t like this - and because those people opt out and keep using their cars, the rest of us suffer because TC aren't getting the actual valuable myway data to design the future networks...

[Bus 503]

Something I've been wondering is when, if ever, TC plan to resume pre-Covid peak frequencies on local routes. Looking back at my old Network 14 timetable book, many local routes used to run every 15-20 minutes during the morning and evening peak, with hourly frequencies in the middle of the day. This contrasts with the current, post-Covid practice of half-hourly local services the whole day with little to no added frequency during the peak.

Perhaps the pre-Covid frequencies will never return. For example, one could argue the trade-off for half-hourly services during the daytime means there is no capacity to "surge" local route frequencies during the morning and afternoon peak. Furthermore, the addition of multiple Rapids beyond the old Red and Blue rapids since Network 2019 also may also mean there is less capacity for this.

Hopefully we will see a return to pre-Covid peak frequencies in local routes after the Commonwealth Bridge strengthening is finished, but the situation of half-hourly local routes during the peak preceded the bridge works and has persisted on my count for at least the last four to five years. Given that, perhaps we need to accept those old local frequencies are a relic of the past.

[Bus 400]

If I remember correctly, the justification is because most people work from home.

I know one Federal Department, you're free to work from home whenever you want. If you're WFH or the office, you can start work anywhere from 6-10am. You just have to work your 8 hours each day. 

In 2028/29 we are due for the next big decade network redesign. 

[Northside]

I know I've posted this network map here before, but I wanted to post again to highlight the estimates I've done in the background to determine the rough bus allocations required to run this suggested network. First of all, I think the premise of the current network to funnel as many services onto the Commonwealth Ave bridge is flawed. I think a proper network redesign should prioritise trips away from this area to reduce the demand of services that traverse this choke point. Below is the redesigned network map:

Route map:


And following is my rough estimates for the allocations required to run each network (looking only at the affected routes). I've created two separate tables for route duration and frequency for both peak and interpeak. Trip times are taken from the previous and current timetables and estimated for the suggested network. The buses required for each route are determined by the route duration (including 10 min each end for turnaround time) * the frequency (rounded up to the nearest whole number) to get the buses required each hour. I know the calculation is crude, but applied consistently across the three networks. I hope this can demonstrate that we can do better to provide a decent service and that thinking outside of the box can help us deliver far better outcomes for public transport users and commuters in Canberra.

Peak allocation comparison:


Inter-peak allocation comparison:



Now, we just need a way to get this type of thinking to the powers that be, to advocate for better services when they review the network in light of current trip data.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

So there's a times adjustment happening tomorrow or whatever. Would I be correct in assuming that shifts won't be changing when school term resumes?

[Bus 400]

Is it just me or was it communicated with the public that the 54 & 55 moved platforms in City Interchange? 

I know a lot of signage elsewhere hasn't changed. Particularly the 56 showing on the Russell bollards on weekends. 

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

I had to check my emails to be sure, as far as I can tell there was no information provided about it. I just checked the Wayback Machine to see the timetables and maps on the website between 2 February and March (as it's since been updated) and strangely I cannot access any of the new timetables as it keeps redirecting to 2025 versions - even when I put the new link in.
I don't ride those routes very often, but even though I'm in the City a lot, it still took me 5 weeks after the new network to notice that those routes were going towards platform 9 after spotting them turning off of Rimmer street instead of going straight like the ANU Loop - as I would've assumed they'd do.

[triumph]

Re routes 54 and 55. I hadn't noticed this either. (Unfortunately, recent usage was from the Canberra Centre.) The change is logical to accommodate the new Rimmer St starting point and use of the normal Alinga St route. Is the phasing of traffic lights more favourable through the Alinga St route than the Rudd St route? Traffic also seems to be an issue at times at the Bunda - Mort Sts intersection for the right turn needed by buses going this way.

Perhaps there was/is signage at the former platform redirecting customers? Agree that the users should apparently have been better informed. Hurrying to the wrong platform can cost a missed service.

[L94UBbusfan]

Another announcement today from Transport Canberra about network improvements taking place from Monday July 20th.

Changes to Rapid and local services

Rapid 2
Reinstate services between the Fraser terminus and Fyshwick.
Maintain existing frequency.
Reintroduce services departing Kippax at 5:36 am and Belconnen at 5:33 am.

Rapid 3
Reinstate services between Spence and the Canberra Airport.
Maintain existing frequency.

Rapid 4
Commence earlier from Tuggeranong at 5:31 am.
Additional services between Woden and Belconnen during the morning peak period.
Additional services between the City and Tuggeranong in the afternoon peak period.

Rapid 5
Additional service in the morning peak period to help to service demand on Athllon Drive.

Rapid 6
Additional services to support school-day transport in the morning peak period southbound and one additional northbound service from Woden in the afternoon.

Route 19
Additional afternoon service between existing services at 3:51 pm and 4:31 pm.

Route 26
Additional morning service to support student patronage, departing Casey Shops at 7:16 am.
Additional afternoon service commencing at John Paul College at approximately 3:43 pm.

Route 56
Reinstate travel along Kings Avenue Bridge (instead of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge).

Route 63
Service at 2:45 pm to leave later, allowing access for students of Arawang Primary School.

Route 66
Service departing Woden at 2:32 pm to be moved later, allowing access for students of Evelyn Scott School.

Route 81
Service departing Tuggeranong at 2:42 pm to be moved later, aligning with Gordon Primary School's 3:00 pm bell time.

There have also been some timing changes with school routes. No timetables as of yet but they will obviously be released closer to the date of the changes as we are still 2 months away.


Obviously the biggest change is the R2/R3 suburban sections being reinstated which is really good for West Belconnen, although that has been known for a while now. It surprises me a bit that the R5/R6 will continue to terminate at Belconnen, but hey I'm not complaining at all. Not quite sure why they changed the 56 to use Commonwealth Ave bridge instead of Kings Ave bridge in the first place but the 56 is now back on Kings Ave bridge with this update. There was no info about whether the R4 will continue to receive high capacity buses either, hopefully that remains the case although I've been seeing several Tuggeranong STAG/Artic runs occasionally being operated by standards (some more than others, especially today for some reason)

While I do appreciate the extra 19 and 26 services as the existing services at those times are packed, it's still not good enough. I'm quite disappointed to see that all loop services have remained at a 40 minute frequency, I don't think I've been on a 25/26 service since the frequency cuts that hasn't been standing room only, or near standing room only.

[Bus 400]

The 40 & 42 are included in those loop frequencies. These routes use to be the 313 & 314 that had the 15 minute Intertown frequencies. Where's the uproar about these routes? 

But i wonder what happened about the reasoning behind the splitting. Traffic hasn't disappeared, being winter it'll get worse. 

Surprised nothing has been done about the afternoon City to Belconnen leg. Whilst I drive past the Barry Drive ANU stop, just about every day I see a sea of buses leaving the City displaying "BUS FULL".