Network update from Monday 2 February 2026

[L94UBbusfan]

Today it was announced by Chris Steel that an updated bus network will start on the 2nd of February next year (2026)

"An updated bus network will begin at the start of Term 1 on Monday 2 February 2026 to coincide with major construction on the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal project.

The Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal project is essential work being delivered by the National Capital Authority (NCA) on behalf of the Australian Government. This project will have significant impacts to all road users during the construction period which has been announced by the NCA to begin on Wednesday 7 January 2026.

More information on the project including the impacts to motorists and roads, the public transport network and foot/bike paths can be found on the NCA website.

To maintain the reliability of bus services, temporary adjustments will be made to weekday and weekend bus timetables and routes across the public transport network for the duration of the construction period. There are no changes to light rail frequencies.

The changes are necessary to ensure that Transport Canberra resources are used in the most efficient way possible, allowing bus services to continue across the entire network.

Every effort will also be made to maintain bus frequency. In instances where there is reduced service frequency, available buses that have more passenger capacity will be allocated to help move more customers at once.

While these changes may mean adjusted travel times or altered routes for some passengers, they are temporary and will be reviewed as construction progresses. Bus services will be monitored and reviewed and refined to align with demand, impact and operational conditions."

Changes to Rapids and local services

- A dedicated bus and emergency services priority lane across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge northbound into the city
- 15-minute standard frequency for all weekday Rapid bus services all day across the network until 7:30 pm
- Rapid 2 changes with no services within Belconnen and reduced frequency to 15 minutes between the Belconnen Interchange and Fyshwick. A new local service, route 12 for Belconnen will replace Rapid 2 services between Fraser and Belconnen Interchange
- Rapid 3 changes with no services within Belconnen but maintaining Belconnen Interchange to Canberra Airport. A new local service, route 13 for Belconnen will replace Rapid 3 services between Spence and Belconnen Interchange
- Rapid 4 changes with reduced frequency to 15 minutes
- Rapid 5 extension of services into Belconnen (now linking Lanyon to Belconnen) to help replace reduced Rapid 4 frequency
- Rapid 6 extension of services into Belconnen (now linking Woden to Belconnen) to help replace reduced Rapid 2 frequency. Includes a return to service bus stops on Ainsworth Street, Phillip
- Route 31 extension of services to Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street
- Route 54 extension of services to Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street
- Route 55 extension of services to Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street
- Route 56 extension of services to Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street and route change to use - King Edward Terrace and Commonwealth Avenue Bridge instead of Kings Avenue Bridge.
- Route 57 extension of services to Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street
- Route 58 extension of services to Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street
- Route 180 (peak only service) extension of services to Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street
- Route 181 (peak only service) extension of services to Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street
- Route 182 (peak only service) extension of services to Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street
- Time changes and refinements for local routes 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 41, 44, 45, 46, 47, 60, 61, 63, 65, 66, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 80, 81

There are also some school route changes (nothing super serious though) and the network map has also been released.


My thoughts

If I had describe this update in one word, it would be why. My biggest complaint and one I don't understand one bit is why they cut the local sections of the R2 and R3 when the bit they actually should be cutting/reducing frequencies is the section that crosses the bridge? The cutting of the R2 local section in particular removes the rapid connection from Belconnen to Kippax as well, which is very disappointing in my opinion.

While frequencies have been reduced to every 15 minutes for rapids, there are now more routes crossing Commonwealth Avenue bridge than before (because the 56 follows the R2 and R6 route now). Personally I would have redirected some rapid services down the current 59 route instead and kept the current frequencies, but hey, I suppose they've got it to work.

Can someone tell me why the R5 and R6 now go to Belconnen? While yes it's nice to have a direct bus from Lanyon to Belconnen there are 3 Rapid services from Belconnen to City already, another 2 is very overkill. Apparently this is to "help replace reduced R2 and R4 frequency" but there are plenty of Belconnen to City services already, and apparently they are planning to put more Artics and STAGs on the R4 to increase capacity anyway, so I don't really see the need for MORE services. I sort of get why they did it, but I don't think it's needed (or only 1 extra service is needed)

The only thing that makes some sense is that they've extended the 31 and 54-58 to Marcus Clarke before Rimmer St. Don't really get the 31, but with the others it's quite confusing with the 59 starting at City ANU but the others starting at City Interchange. Not sure how it fixes the traffic issues on Commonwealth Ave bridge though. (the new network map also still shows the 54 going along Mustang and Spitfire Ave despite not having done so in almost 3 years    )

This comes with every network change, but its quite annoying for me that all the interesting runs I've found will likely change, and even more annoying I only got 3 terms out of all the interesting runs I found in the current network . Please feel free to share your thoughts, I'm interested to see what people think of the changes.

[triumph]

Some random comments adding in reply.

Yes, it's about time the anomaly of buses not starting or passing through Rimmer St was corrected. (Rte 53 remains an impractical exception.)

Routes 12 and 13 are a disappointment as change at Belconnen, with all the connections unreliability, will be required. If services on these routes also revert to 'local' standards, especially at weekends, it will be a major setback and disincentive, with negative patronage effects extending long into the future.
 
Wonder why the reserved lane on Commonwealth Ave bridge is not tidal flow?

TC has had years to consider and plan for the probability of the lengthy closures of the Commonwealth Ave bridges. Instead of cutting and slowing services there was the opportunity, sadly not embraced, to enhance its reputation and standing by being truly innovative, and increasing services to provide a better alternative to private cars; thereby relieving traffic and parking congestion during this period of stress, and capturing some new users into the future to boot.

Forward planning could also have seen the early completion of the Light Rail bridge, thus providing relief lanes. (And the creator of the problem, the Commonwealth through its Agency, should have been pro-active and coughed up.)

TC's habit of largely retiring buses as new ones are delivered is not forward looking enough. Approx 112 have been put into service since 800, and 101 withdrawn in the same period. A negligible net fleet increase of less than 2 1/2% .(Also I have often wondered how is it that the locally smaller operator, CDC, can flexibly find buses and drivers for things like Spilt Milk and rare Light Rail bustitution, and yet the big operator, TC, can't/won't?)

And to conclude, many who volubly oppose light rail claim flexibility as a bus advantage. Yeah, right. 

[CBRFlyer]

A few points to clarify, firstly the R2/R3 cut is due to run times, particularly an issue with the R2 which is already an incredibly long run in peak, adding in time to get across commonwealth Ave would make the run simply too long and nearly impossible to schedule as it would be at the point where you could only get one into a single 5hr block  with insufficient time to return and there isn't enough services from Fraser/Fyshwick to avoid excessive amounts of dead running. Also with the amount of late running expected through the city this will provide a more reliable service to the suburbs. 

The 56 is likely through Parkes now to assist with the capacity cuts in this area on the R2/6 as it's an incredibly highly patronised area during peak hour.

As for CDC's ability to get drivers for events...look deeper, it's not as simple as it seems on the surface, the most recent lightrail shut down a few weeks ago, CDC was using two buses from their Sydney charter operations, you would have to assume drivers as well, they simply have the ability to call on more drivers, from both within the Canberra region and well out of it.

[Buzz Killington]

It's a shame they haven't revived a direct Woden-Belconnen service via the Parkway. Possibly something to consider if/when reliable data can be derived from the MyWay+ system to identify if it's viable (and not just in peak, either) to take the pressure off the intertown.

Revival of peak routes to the City similar to the 712/743 from Spence/Fraser could have also been useful with the 12/13 terminating in Belconnen.

[CBRFlyer]

I think adding some express services as mentioned would be a very good trade off for reduced/cut rapids to the suburbs. But I do wonder if this was not possible due to the same resourcing issues that have caused the reduction of Rapid frequencies. 

Unfortunately an ongoing issue I believe is the age of the workforce, you done see many younger drivers joining the workforce and there is a very large number of drivers (based on appearance) that would seem to be approaching retirement age, this make it very difficult to increase staff numbers and as consequence very hard to increase fleet size due to the current high natural attrition rate of the workforce. 

[Bus 400]

It'll be interesting watching people board the R6 in Belconnen & watching it take the windier route to Woden. 

With Strathnairn School opening in 2026, pity only the 903 will service the school students & commuters. I assume the little buses will be out less.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

I asked Chris Steel when he came along to the PTCBR AGM "when are you going to stop screwing Tuggeranong Valley?" Here's another network where there's what appears to be a complete disregard for anything south of Woden and increasing the ease for people north of the City... so typical. Belconnen to City is getting 5 rapids now, that's so fair.

The R6 baffles me, that route is already long enough and I have no doubt people are going to dumb and get it thinking it'll get to Woden quicker now that the R4 is going to be screwed again.

[CBRFlyer]

I strongly suggest you read properly the reason for the extension of rapids to Belconnen (ie the large cut in frequency) as well as the disadvantages to Belconnen residents (cuts to the R2 and R3) before commenting further....

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

I don't live in Belconnen so I don't care - I'm so beyond giving a rat anymore so it's about time they felt what us Valley residents have been putting up with for the last 20+ years for once.

When you know what several decades of built-up resentment feels like, you let me know yeah.

[L94UBbusfan]

I absolutely love the idea of having peak hour service from Fraser/Spence to City like the 712/743, they really should have done it, peak hour R2s are pretty busy already and cutting the Rapid will only make this much worse. Would also have loved to see a Belconnen to Woden express service like the old 749, but that was never gonna happen unfortunately.

A few points to clarify, firstly the R2/R3 cut is due to run times, particularly an issue with the R2 which is already an incredibly long run in peak, adding in time to get across commonwealth Ave would make the run simply too long and nearly impossible to schedule as it would be at the point where you could only get one into a single 5hr block  with insufficient time to return and there isn't enough services from Fraser/Fyshwick to avoid excessive amounts of dead running. Also with the amount of late running expected through the city this will provide a more reliable service to the suburbs.

I understand the R3, the local section never really needed to be a rapid and it's probably better off as a local service starting and ending at Belconnen (probably also more straightforward for tourists at the airport who don't know where "Spence" is either) but I'm more annoyed at the fact they've cut the R2 beyond Belconnen, and with it the Belconnen-Kippax rapid link. This section has had a form of rapid route with at least a 15 minute frequency for at least 15 years, if not longer. It's also worth considering the new development in the Ginninderry region will make Kippax a more important group centre than it is currently. It would have been much better to have the R2 going from Kippax-Fyswhick instead, keeping the Belconnen-Kippax rapid link. It is worth noting that we still don't know the frequencies of the 12/13 yet, so it could be like the 59 (which covers a former R5 section) with a 15 minute frequency on weekdays, which would be good, although that would mean like the 59 1 or 2 hour frequencies on weekends.

With Strathnairn School opening in 2026, pity only the 903 will service the school students & commuters. I assume the little buses will be out less.

I'm disappointed they didn't give Strathnairn a full time bus service which links to Belconnen considering they've cut the Rapid connection at Kippax, although the usage of more standard buses will make it more like a regular service. I'm also a bit disappointed (but not surprised) to see no services to the new section of Denman Prospect and Jacka, but there may not be enough demand, buses, or drivers to support these services currently.

The R6 baffles me, that route is already long enough and I have no doubt people are going to dumb and get it thinking it'll get to Woden quicker now that the R4 is going to be screwed again.

Along with the R2/R3 cuts, I really don't understand the R5/R6 extension to Belconnen. I get it's for capacity, but both services currently take 50 minutes to complete their current Lanyon/Woden to City ANU route, add an extra 20-25 minutes on top of that to get to Belconnen plus navigating the bridge roadworks and that's a roughly 75 minute service. Why'd they cut the R2 again? Oh yeah, because it was too long, yet the current R2 has a timetabled block time of 72 minutes, 3 minutes less. Makes sense 

[triumph]

I don't live in Belconnen so I don't care - I'm so beyond giving a rat anymore so it's about time they felt what us Valley residents have been putting up with for the last 20+ years for once.

When you know what several decades of built-up resentment feels like, you let me know yeah.

Yes, so hard putting up with R service all the way to the City via suburbs from Lanyon, R service direct via Woden to the City and Belconnen from Tuggeranong, the ONLY peak hour express services in the entire network, 180, 181, and 182 between Lanyon and the City, and a suburb network similar to other areas. 

[Busnerd]

Remember this isn't so much a 'new network' rather than a temporary network who's entire purpose is reducing delays to services due to the bridge works.

Tuggeranong didn't get 'screwed over', it got an extended R5, and higher capacity vehicles allocated to existing R4s, as said above the R2 and R3 were cut as the run time once delays are involved, although less so with the R3 than R2, would cause rostering/driver issues more than anything else which causes flow on impacts to reliability to service.

They have said they will monitor and make changes as required, which may be hard given the unreliability of MyWay+ but hopefully they take feedback and listen to it.

All going well the network will revert back once the works are completed.

[Bus 400]

As long as someone promotes it & is timetabled correctly. If you combine the 12 with the 40/42, Kippax to Belconnen still has a 15 minuteish frequency. At the moment people will miss the R2, but the 40 will leave Kippax with no new passengers.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

this isn't so much a 'new network' rather than a temporary network

Well it's enough of a change that it requires downloading/creating a completely new set of timetables for those who still rely on that method. Especially for all those local route time changes, yikes.

[L94UBbusfan]

If you combine the 12 with the 40/42, Kippax to Belconnen still has a 15 minuteish frequency.

If the 12 and 40/42 are timetabled like that (which it won't be) then I suppose it will do the job linking Belconnen and Kippax temporarily, but I'd still like to see the rapid kept (or have the 12 running at a rapid frequency)

Hopefully the R4 should be getting more STAG runs than there are currently, they are perfect for the intertown corridor and there aren't enough running in the current timetable. I swear I see so many STAGs either sitting in the depot or on some random R6 at 3pm with 5 people on it. I'm interested to see just how many more Artics/STAGs appear on the R4 in the update compared to currently.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Just looking at the map again, I feel like moving the 180/181 (back) and R7/R10 on to Parks Way & Tuggeranong Parkway would help alleviate some of the congestion on the bridge. Sure there's a ton of mayhem on the parkway during peak and bad weather but I'm sure something similar will probably happen on the bridge over the next 2 years too. Sacrifice a couple stops for maybe slightly faster travel on most weekdays.



Also the R4/5 only service a small portion of the southern suburbs anyway and the woo hoo 180s are great... for the Lanyon MP area people.
Half hour frequency R4s at night when the weekends aren't touched, bruh just make the R4 a bi-hourly service and convert the 59 into a rapid already cuz clearly the ANU corridor needs those buses more.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

So would be right in assuming that once this comes into affect, we will likely not have another network change/adjustment until 2028 unless something drastic happens?

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Great... "in the coming days" we'll get to see what they adjusted... Why is it that the public has to wait until there's almost no time left to work out adjustments yet the drivers get to pick shifts MONTHS in advance? It's just not fair. I'm not angry because I'm not going to have enough time to fix up my own timetables, I'm angry because 2 weeks is just not enough - and I'm NOT just speaking for myself here.

[Bus 400]

It'll be the same old, the bus that was once convenient is no longer convenient. So people will start driving again.  But someone else will see the new bus timetable is convenient & they'll try the bus till the next timetable change.

I can't remember pre-Google Transit feed. But when I use to play with ACTION GTFS data. Google required this information from everyone to be uploading 2 weeks before going live. I'm not sure if this is still the case. Especially when tracking apps can do live changes, I've seen it with Sydney Trains.