Public transport update for 2026 including night-time travel trial

Media Release: Chris Steel MLA, 5 December 2025

The ACT Government is releasing an updated public transport network and timetable, ahead of major construction getting underway 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.

More information on the project including construction staging can be found on the NCA website.

Updated public transport network from 2 February 2026 

The ACT Government’s updated public transport network and timetable will commence on 2 February 2026 to align with the start of the school term for all students and the end of the summer holiday period.

While the closure of a single span of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge will occur from 7 January 2026, the full impact on the traffic is not expected until the return of the school year.

The ACT Government will be making detailed public transport timetables available for Canberrans from early January 2026. An updated network map is available today to assist with early planning.

School services will continue, including four new services.

All rapid buses will continue to operate at a 15-minute frequency, with increased capacity using articulated buses on otherwise impacted routes.

The updated bus network has been designed to preserve service reliability during the construction, by ensuring the timetable is realistic with the changed traffic conditions.

As anticipated, there are reductions to service frequency and route changes that have been required due to the construction work. As much capacity as possible has been retained on highly patronised corridors, including utilising larger capacity buses.

The updates bus network is based on traffic modelling which tells us that the southbound morning peak travel across Commonwealth Avenue will be most impacted by the construction works.

Travel times are expected to increase by around 13 minutes southbound on Commonwealth Avenue. This reduces to around an additional 7 minutes by the afternoon peak.

The project will also have flow on impacts on major roads and the broader traffic network including Kings Avenue. The impacts are projected to be significant and we encourage the community to plan ahead before you travel whether by bus or by private vehicle.

If possible, travel outside peak times, allow extra time for your trip or find other ways to travel.

There are many great platforms to check real-time traffic conditions before you get on the road, such as Waze Navigation and Live Traffic, Google Maps and Apple Maps.

The ACT Government is committed to revising the bus network based on actual traffic conditions for the second half of 2026.

For more information, please visit the Transport Canberra website.

Free public transport on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm 

The Fare Free Friday trial will conclude as planned after one year, with its final day on Friday 12 December 2025. Following the conclusion of the trial, an evaluation will be undertaken including assessing future concession benefits for students.

From Saturday 13 December, a new initiative will provide free travel on all buses and light rail every Friday and Saturday evening from 6.00 pm onwards to support the night-time economy in the City and Town Centres.  This trial will continue through the Summer until Saturday 28 February 2026.

Canberrans travelling in the evening on Fridays and Saturdays can simply tap on and off as normal to register their zero-dollar fare during the free travel period.

Return to services after construction

Following the two years of the Federal Government’s construction work on the Bridge, the Transport Canberra will return to normal frequencies and Rapid routes.

The Government remains committed to further increasing frequencies above normal levels and adding additional Rapid routes consistent with Labor’s election commitments.

Transport Safety Officers 

The ACT Government is introducing eight new Transit Enforcement Officers across the bus network in the coming weeks.

These officers will provide a visible deterrent to anti-social behaviour, reassure passengers and staff, and support drivers against occupational violence.

The commencement of new officers is reinforced by recently passed laws to manage anti-social behaviour and promote safe journeys on public transport.

These new laws allow Transport Canberra Officers and ACT Police to direct individuals to leave the immediate area within a bus interchange, or the immediate area around a bus stop, if they are displaying aggressive or menacing behaviour and pose a safety risk to others.

“I acknowledge that it is going to be incredibly disruptive for Canberrans while the Federal Government’s bridge works are underway. We have worked hard to make sure we deliver a reliable bus network during the construction period with capacity to move as many Canberrans as possible.

“I am committed to revising the bus timetable once the community has had some time to adjust to the new traffic environment and we understand what the actual impacts are on travel times.

“I would like to thank our bus drivers and broader workforce including emergency services personnel for their work during this period.

“The new free night-time travel trial is intended to encourage Canberrans to get out and support our great food and entertainment businesses across the city. Go out for dinner or a drink over the Summer and you can enjoy a free ride home on a bus or light rail.”

– Minister for Transport Chris Steel