5 December 2014

Bus users reminded of Monday’s network changes

Metro customers are being asked to ensure they have checked their routes and timetables in advance of the new bus network starting this Monday.

The network has been remodelled to improve service reliability and get the city moving.

At the core of the new network are a family of frequent Metro Lines which intersect the city every 10-15 minutes. Many people in Christchurch now live within a short walk of one of these new Metro Lines. For those who are further afield, City Connector and Suburban Link buses are provided within 500 metres.

David Stenhouse, Environment Canterbury’s public transport manager, says that Metro Info staff are on hand to help people work out their new way of travelling.

“We have people on the streets and on the phone to help people understand how their route will change,” he says. “Metro’s journey planner on the metroinfo.co.nz website is also a really useful tool to plan your travel. Entering your beginning and end points, along with when you want to travel, will show you your best options. Or if people prefer, our Metro Info staff are at the end of the phone to help them with this.”

Each of the Metro Lines will eventually be identified by colour, although Mr Stenhouse explains that some will not be in their new colours when the network commences on Monday.

“Logistically, we want to keep all our buses on the road, so buses – the Purple and Orange Lines in particular –will be progressively painted over the coming weeks,” he says. “We ask that customers take particular notice of which bus they are getting on, and check with the driver if they are not certain.”

Metro Info has had some feedback from customers concerned that the Metrostar route from Hornby to New Brighton has been removed. Mr Stenhouse says that while the branded “Metrostar” name has gone, the service remains.

“For customers in the west of the city, the Metrostar route has been replaced by the 125 for those going to Hornby Hub, and by the 100 which travels a very similar route between Wigram and the Palms (including Canterbury University). For people in the east, the 60 connects Southshore, New Brighton and The Palms, carrying on through the city to Hillmorton,” he says.

The Metrostar was changed because of the network’s new focus on the high frequency Metro Lines, which enable customers to rapidly get from Halswell, New Brighton and Parklands to the city.

“We have taken the views of the public into account, and have only removed services which had very low patronage. This network has been well thought out, and we believe it will help us to increase the number of bus users over the coming years, as we actively seek to keep our city and our economy moving throughout greater Christchurch,” Mr Stenhouse says.

The Metro Lines family of high frequency routes

For timetables, network maps and the journey planner tool, please visit www.metroinfo.co.nz, or call Metroinfo on 3 66 88 55.

ENDS

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