Public transport in Christchurch#Suburban bus services

Since deregulation of the urban bus market in 1991, the Canterbury Regional Council (now branded Environment Canterbury) has taken responsibility for the tendering, planning and administration of public transport in Christchurch. Over the course of that time, improvements and changes have shaped the predominantly bus based public transport system, including the introduction of services such as the Orbiter. Originally branded as CanRide, this was replaced in 2003 with the introduction of the Metro brand and the eventual Metrocard.

Ticketing and fares are, with some exceptions, standard across the city's network. The electronic Metrocard provides a discount off regular fares. Under 24s, tertiary students, and Community Service Card holders receive a discount, and senior citizens travel free on off-peak services (9:00am until the end of the day weekdays, all day weekends and public holidays).{{Cite web |title=Fares {{!}} Metro Christchurch |url=https://www.metroinfo.co.nz/travel-and-fares-info/fares |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=www.metroinfo.co.nz}}

Real-time information about the bus network is displayed at select bus stops, and is available online via the first party MetroGo web app{{Cite web |title=Real time bus information apps |url=https://www.metroinfo.co.nz/travel-and-fares-info/real-time-bus-information-apps/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=Metro Christchurch}} or third party apps such as Google Maps or Transit using the GTFS Realtime or SIRI APIs.{{Cite web |title=Developer resources |url=https://www.metroinfo.co.nz/about/developer-resources/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=Metro Christchurch}}

The February 2011 Christchurch earthquake resulted in significant changes to the Metro bus network with the two key changes. The first change was the removal and or reorganisation of many routes due to the closure of the central city, road damage along routes, or reduced patronage. The second change occurred in December 2012 with the shift of the bus network from a radial network to a hub and spoke model network and the Blue Line was introduced. This resulted in many services being localised to hubs with connecting core services into the Central City and Cross Town.

More changes were made in December 2014, with the introduction of the Purple Line, Yellow Line and Orange Line, and more suburb to suburb routes.

The local bus service is marketed as Metro and designed, specified, put out to tender and subsidised by Environment Canterbury. All bus operators are required to display the required external Metro branding to vehicles under contract to ECan.

Christchurch City Council provides roading infrastructure and street furniture such as signs and seats and regulates parking at bus stops, and is also owner of Red Bus Ltd through its holding company Christchurch City Holdings. The city council previously funded the zero-fare The Shuttle service which ended after the 2011 earthquake.

The Christchurch City Council also provides bus lanes which operational during peak commuting hours on some routes. The routes have been controversial with some business owners concerned at the loss of parking from outside their businesses during the lanes operational times, but the lanes have improved bus travel times, schedule adherence and have resulted in an increase in passenger numbers.

Vehicle safety standards are regulated by the NZ Transport Agency.

The city council provided the previous central city bus exchange in November 2000, which was damaged and closed after the earthquake on 22 February 2011. The previous bus exchange in the city centre served as the principal bus interchange point and passenger hub for the Metro network. The Exchange had attracted interest from other worldwide city authorities investigating how to improve their bus services. Since the Bus Exchange opened in 2000, the number of people using the bus service had doubled.

With the closure of the central city, two separate temporary central city facilities on the outer fringes of the CBD were established; one in Bealey Avenue, and one in Hagley Avenue. On 25 October 2011, bus services shifted to the new Central Station between Lichfield and Tuam Streets (in the block between Colombo and Durham Streets), which served as a longer-term temporary city bus stop. The expectation was that Central Station was to be in use for "up to two years".{{Cite news |last=Mathewson |first=Nicole |date=17 October 2011 |title=Temporary Hub Will 'Restore Vibrancy' to City |page=A3 |work=The Press |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5794445/Temporary-hub-will-restore-vibrancy |access-date=15 August 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172536/http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5794445/Temporary-hub-will-restore-vibrancy |url-status=live }}

The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) was unveiled on 30 July 2012,{{Cite news |last=Cairns |first=Lois |date=30 July 2012 |title=Rebuild Plan for Christchurch Unveiled |work=The Press |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/rebuilding-christchurch/7378437/Rebuild-plan-for-Christchurch-unveiled |access-date=15 August 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134357/http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/rebuilding-christchurch/7378437/Rebuild-plan-for-Christchurch-unveiled |url-status=live }} which had an indicative time-frame for a new Bus Interchange building to be open by June 2014.{{cite book|title=Christchurch Central Recovery Plan|date=30 July 2012|publisher=Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority|location=Christchurch|isbn=978-0-478-39718-5|page=46}} Central Station was in use until 25 May 2015, when Christchurch's new $53 million Bus Interchange building opened,{{Cite news |last=Meier |first=Cecile |date=25 May 2015 |title=Christchurch Bus Interchange Opens |work=The Press |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68813220/christchurchs-53-million-bus-interchange-opens |access-date=4 August 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172009/http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68813220/christchurchs-53-million-bus-interchange-opens |url-status=live }} with half of the 16 bays operational. On 20 August, the building was physically completed and further opened to the public, including bike parking and more seating. On Thursday 8 October, the remaining bays opened. Later retailers took spaces.{{Cite web |title=Your New Bus Interchange |url=http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/news/Pages/Bus-Interchange.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925070249/http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/news/Pages/Bus-Interchange.aspx |archive-date=25 September 2018 |access-date=12 June 2017 |website=Metro}}

Part of the hub and spoke model network is that many passengers need to interchange to other buses at suburban centres.{{Cite web |title=Metro Bus Services Review May 2014 |url=http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/news/Pages/Metro-Bus-Services-Review-May-2014.aspx |access-date=12 June 2017 |website=Metro |language=en-nz |archive-date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406193108/http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/news/Pages/Metro-Bus-Services-Review-May-2014.aspx |url-status=live }} The four High Frequency services, which cross the city every 10 to 15 minutes, serve the Interchange,{{Cite web |title=Bus Interchange: Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/Pages/Bus-Interchange-faqs.aspx |access-date=12 June 2017 |website=Metro |language=en-nz |archive-date=12 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412092949/http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/Pages/Bus-Interchange-faqs.aspx |url-status=live }} but the Orbiter doesn't. The Interchange also provides for the less frequent buses, longer distance coaches (on Lichfield St, except for Newmans to Queenstown),{{Cite web |title=Christchurch – Bus Timetable // Search Bus Fares From Christchurch |url=https://www.intercity.co.nz/travel-info/timetable/lookup/CHC |access-date=12 June 2017 |website=www.intercity.co.nz |language=en |archive-date=11 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411232920/https://www.intercity.co.nz/travel-info/timetable/lookup/CHC |url-status=live }} taxis, cyclists and pedestrians.

Architectus and Aurecon designed the interchange and Thiess and Southbase Construction built it.

To save space a ‘reversing bus bay’ design of 16 bays{{Cite news |date=16 July 2016 |title=Christchurch Bus Interchange / Architectus |language=en-US |work=ArchDaily |url=http://www.archdaily.com/791283/christchurch-bus-interchange-architectus-plus-athfield-architects |access-date=12 June 2017 |archive-date=12 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612031415/http://www.archdaily.com/791283/christchurch-bus-interchange-architectus-plus-athfield-architects |url-status=live }} has a {{Convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} backing lane, separated from the {{Convert|5|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide circulation lane.

The passenger hall has underfloor heating from a groundwater heat pump. Wind towers and louvres draw air into the hall and air curtains prevent fumes getting in. Each bus route has an area within the interchange, buses being automatically directed to a stop in that area. Doors to the hall open once the bus stops and another door at the front allows cyclists to access bus bike racks. Although pedestrians aren't permitted in the bus manoeuvering area, bus speeds are restricted. Cycle racks for 100 bicycles are on two levels and there are e-bike chargers.{{Cite web |title=Inside the New Bus Interchange Whats in it for Cycling |url=http://cyclingchristchurch.co.nz/2015/10/02/inside-the-new-bus-interchange-whats-in-it-for-cycling/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002070957/http://cyclingchristchurch.co.nz/2015/10/02/inside-the-new-bus-interchange-whats-in-it-for-cycling/ |archive-date=2 October 2015 |website=Cycling Christchurch}} There are also toilets, luggage lockers and an information counter. Tactile paving guides sight impaired passengers.{{Cite web |title=Bus Interchange |url=http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/info/Pages/CentralStation.aspx |access-date=12 June 2017 |website=Metro |language=en-nz |archive-date=7 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607112917/http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/info/Pages/CentralStation.aspx |url-status=live }} A large canopy and verandas provide shelter outside.

The first bus lounge, which provides indoor waiting facilities, was planned for Riccarton Road. ECan requested it to be open in December 2014, but Christchurch city councillors found it difficult to make the required decisions. The opening was initially delayed to April 2015, and the city council then gave itself a new deadline of August 2015, and then said it would be open in November 2015.{{Cite news |date=4 December 2015 |title=Bus Lounge Date Missed Fourth Time |page=A4 |work=The Press |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/74679744/bus-lounge-deadline-missed-again |access-date=6 January 2017 |archive-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825230148/http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/74679744/bus-lounge-deadline-missed-again |url-status=live }} It wasn't until 14 December 2015 that the Riccarton Road lounge, on the corner with Division Street, finally opened.{{Cite news |date=15 December 2015 |title=Riccarton Rd Bus Lounge Now Open |page=A5 |work=The Press |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/75060807/new-bus-lounge-opens-on-christchurchs-riccarton-rd |access-date=22 December 2015}}

File:Bus Exchange Lichfield St frontage.jpg|The city's Bus Exchange on Lichfield Street, which operated from November 2000 to February 2011

File:Temp Christchurch Bus Exchange.JPG|Temporary bus stations were set up after the February 2011 earthquake at the edge of the city centre

File:Temporary Christchurch Bus Exchange.jpg|The temporary Central Station in November 2011

File:New Bus Exchange 895.JPG|View of the new Bus Interchange along Lichfield Street, opposite the former exchange

File:Oversimplified Map of ChCh Metro 2014.png

File:Route 97 5-10-2020.jpg

On 8 December 2014, a new bus network was launched offering three types of bus services. Five colour-coded frequent bus routes (the High Frequency Services) run through Christchurch's major road corridors, connecting people to popular destinations. In September, 2020 it was announced that the colour-coded line branding will be discontinued, with lines reverting to their routes number. The Blue Line group became routes 1 and 1x on 28 September, the rest will change over in November 2020.{{Cite news |last=Hayward |first=Michael |date=9 September 2020 |title=The Big Teal Reveal: New Colour, Branding for Canterbury's Bus Network |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/122703591/the-big-teal-reveal-new-colour-branding-for-canterburys-bus-network |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920163705/https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/122703591/the-big-teal-reveal-new-colour-branding-for-canterburys-bus-network |url-status=live }}

City Connectors (buses with two numbers, not including route 97) allow people to travel from outer suburbs and satellite towns direct to the city.{{Cite web |title=Metro Network |url=http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/chc-network-map-dec14.pdf |access-date=15 August 2015 |publisher=Metro |archive-date=6 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906223248/http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/chc-network-map-dec14.pdf |url-status=live }}

Suburban Links (buses with three numbers and also route 97) allow people to travel between inner suburbs, while avoiding the central city. People wanting to go to the Bus Interchange would need to transfer onto another bus at transfer points, located throughout the city.

{{-}}

The following services are operated under the Metro brand:

{{Routemap

| title = Christchurch Metro Route Orbiter (Or)

| legend = bus

| map =

Northlands Platform B! !STR blue!~MFADEg

\STRc2 green\STR3+l green\STR blue!~HSTq green\STR2+r green\STRc2 orange!~STRc3 green\STR3+1 orange!~MFADE1+3

Burnside High School! !STRc2 green\HST3+1 green\STRc4 green\STR blue\STRc2 orange!~STRc1 green\STR3+1 orange!~HST2+4 green\STRc4 orange!~STRc3 green~~The Palms Shopping Centre

University of Canterbury! !STRq purple!~HST+1 green\STRq purple!~STRc4 green\STR2+r purple\STRc3 purple!~STRc2 orange!~STR blue\STR3+1 orange\STRc4 orange!~STRc1 green\STR+4 green

Westfield Riccarton! !STRq yellow!~HST green\STRq yellow\STRc1 purple!~STRc2 orange!~STRq yellow\STR2+4 purple!~STR3+1 orange!~STR blue!~STRq yellow!~lBHF black\STRc3 purple!~STRc4 orange!~STRq yellow\STRq yellow\STRq yellow!~HST green~~Eastgate Mall (Buckleys Rd)

STR2 green\STRc2 orange!~STRc3 green\STR3+1 orange\STRc1 purple!~STRc4 orange!~STR blue\STRl+4 purple\STRq purple!~STRc2 green\STRq purple!~STR3 green

STRc2 orange!~STRc1 green\STR3+1 orange!~STR2+4 green\STRc4 orange!~STRc3 green\STR blue\STRc2 green\HST3+1 green\STRc4 green~~St Martins shops

Barrington Mall (Barrington St)! !STR3+1 orange!~MFADE3+1\STRc4 orange!~STRc1 green\HSTl+4 green\STR blue!~HSTq green\STRr+1 green\STRc4 green\~~Princess Margaret Hospital

\\\STR blue!~MFADEf\\\numN000

}}

{{Routemap

| title = Christchurch Metro Route 1

| legend = bus

| map =

\tKHSTa\~~Waikuku Beach

\tHST\~~Waikuku

\tSTRl!~STR+l\KHSTa purple!~KHSTeq~~Pegasus

Rangiora! !STRq purple!~tKHSTa blue\STRq purple!~HST\STRr purple~~Woodend (connected by 97)

Southbrook! !tHST blue\STR\

tKRWl blue\STR!~MFADEf!~tKRW+r blue\~~Route 95(Red)

\tHST blue\~~Kaiapoi

\tSTR blue\~~Some buses end here

\HST blue\~~Belfast

STR3+l green!~MFADE3+1\STRq green!~HST blue\STR2+r green!~MFADE2+4~~Northlands Platform C

STR2+r purple!~MFADEgq\HST blue!~STRc2 orange!~STRc3 purple\STR3+1 orange!~MFADE1+3~~Bealey Avenue

STRq yellow!~MFADEgq!~STRc2 orange!~STRc1 purple\STR3+1 orange!~STRq yellow!~STR2+4 purple!~BHF blue\STRq yellow!~MFADEfq!~STRc4 orange!~STRc3 purple~~Bus Interchange

STR3+1 orange!~MFADE3+1\HST blue!~STRc4 orange!~STRc1 purple\STRl+4 purple!~MFADEfq~~Sydenham shops

STRl+4 green!~MFADE4+2\STRq green!~HST blue\STRr+1 green!~MFADE1+3~~Princess Margaret Hospital

\tSTR blue\~~Some buses end here

\tKHSTe blue\numN000~~Cashmere

}}

{{Routemap

| title = Christchurch Metro Route 3

| legend = bus

| map =

-startCollapsible-collapsed-replace

\\LSTRa purple\

\\leer\

\\tKHSTa purple\~~National Trade Academy

\\tSTR purple\~~Only at 8:51 am &

\\tSTR purple\~~coming back at 4:07 pm.

\\tSTR purple\

-endCollapsible-

\\tHST purple\FLUG~~Christchurch International Airport

\\tSTR purple\tKHSTa purple~~Sheffield Cres

\\tKRWg+l purple\tKRWr purple~~Buses split but do not stop

\\HST purple\~~Avonhead Mall

\STR+l green\STRq green!~STR purple\STRq green~~The orbiter from Northlands

\GRZaq!~HST green\GRZeq!~HST purple\~~University of Canterbury – Ilam Rd

\STRq yellow!~MFADEgq!~SHI1l green\vSTR+r- yellow!~STR purple\~~Route 5 from The Hub Hornby

\v-STR green!~lv-HST-L\vSTR- yellow!~STR purple!~lHST-R\~~Westfield Riccarton

\v-STRr green!~MFADE3+1\vSTR- yellow!~STR purple\~~The orbiter from Barrington

\\vSTR- yellow!~BUE purple\~~Rail crossing with Main North line

\\vHST- yellow!~HST purple\~~Hagley Park

\\vHST- yellow!~HST purple\~~Christchurch Hospital (Tuam)

\STRq blue!~MFADEgq\STRq blue!~vBHF- yellow!~BHF purple\STRq blue!~MFADEfq~~Bus Interchange (Platform A and C)

\\vSTR2- yellow!~MFADEf!~STR purple\numN090~~Route 5 goes to Eastgate & New Brighton

\\HST purple\~~Ara Institute

\\HST purple\~~Ferry Rd (Redbus depot EB)

\\HST purple\~~Ferrymead shops

\\KHSTe purple\~~Sumner

}}

File:Bike on Redbus.jpg

Christchurch was the first place in New Zealand where bikes were carried on suburban buses. The trial started in November 2007 on the 35 route to Heathcote.{{Cite web |date=29 January 2009 |title=Bike-Carrying Racks on More Bus Routes from November |url=http://www.ecan.govt.nz/news-and-notices/news/pages/bike-carrying-racks-more-bus-routes-November.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229111710/http://www.ecan.govt.nz/news-and-notices/news/pages/bike-carrying-racks-more-bus-routes-November.aspx |archive-date=29 February 2012 |access-date=8 February 2010 |publisher=Environment Canterbury |location=Christchurch}} Bike racks on buses are provided on all suburban services.{{Cite web |title=Bikes on Buses |url=http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/info/pages/bikeracks.aspx |access-date=28 January 2015 |website=Metro |archive-date=6 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206154347/http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/info/Pages/bikeracks.aspx |url-status=live }}

There are a variety of taxi operators active in Christchurch. Operations are regulated by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Christchurch International Airport is served by buses and shuttle vans.

• Four bus routes are available from the airport bus stand located outside the International Arrivals Terminal;
• 3 Airport or Sheffield Crescent to Sumner
• 8 Port to Port (Airport to Lyttelton)
• 29 City to Airport via Fendalton
• 125 Redwood to Westlake
• Shuttle vans provided by several operators, including most taxi companies, provide door-to-door transport to and from the Airport.

A ferry connects the suburb of Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour, a settlement on the opposite side of Lyttelton Harbour. Ferries first began crossing Lyttelton Harbour in 1888. The ferry is operated by Black Cat Ltd. Connection provided with metro routes 8 and 155.

{{Main|Trams in Christchurch}}

Image:01 Christchurch 178 Brill car.jpg

Christchurch Tramway Ltd operates a one-way tram circuit of the central city. This is mainly marketed as a tourist attraction, but is available to local commuters with an annual season ticket. Trams were originally introduced to Christchurch in 1905, ceased operating in 1954,{{cite book | title=A Wheel on Each Corner: The History of the IPENZ Transportation Group 1956–2006 | last=Douglass | first=Malcolm |publisher=IPENZ Transportation Group | date=2006 | page=12}} and returned to the newly built inner city loop in 1995, mainly as a tourist attraction.

Preliminary investigation into light rail options for Christchurch was made in 2009. Investigating options and protecting possible routes is an action point in the City Council's "A City for People Action Plan" (approved in 2010).{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

{{Main|Rail transport in Christchurch}}

Commuter rail service was discontinued in the 1970s, while long distance rail travel (by KiwiRail) has been scaled back to just the Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine services, which depart from the Christchurch Train Station in Addington.

In May 2014, an article on the website Stuff.co.nz stated that the Templeton Residents' Association had urged Christchurch City Council to consider the implementation of a local commuter rail network for the city.{{Cite web |last=Cairns |first=Lois |date=21 May 2015 |title=Christchurch City Council Urged to Look at Commuter Rail |url=http://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68679067/Christchurch-City-council-urged-to-look-at-commuter-rail |access-date=8 November 2015 |website=stuff.co.nz |archive-date=6 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206105050/http://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68679067/Christchurch-City-council-urged-to-look-at-commuter-rail |url-status=live }} In an article dated August 2014, it was subsequently confirmed that the city council were to discuss the possibility with the NZ Transport Agency.{{Cite web |last=Cairns |first=Lois |date=14 August 2015 |title=Council Keen to Investigate Commuter Rail for Northern Christchurch |url=http://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/71086017/council-keen-to-investigate-commuter-rail-for-northern-christchurch |access-date=8 November 2015 |website=stuff.co.nz |archive-date=6 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206104031/http://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/71086017/council-keen-to-investigate-commuter-rail-for-northern-christchurch |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Public transport in Christchurch}}

• [http://www.redbus.co.nz Red Bus website]
• [http://www.metroinfo.org.nz/ Metro website]

{{Bus transport in New Zealand}}{{Public transport in New Zealand}}