Public transport in Canberra

Public transport in Canberra is provided by bus, taxi and light rail (for travel within the city), while rail, air, and long-distance coach services operate for travel beyond Canberra. A vast road network also plays a major role in transport within and beyond the city.

Transport Canberra
Main article: Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate

On 1 July 2016, Transport Canberra, a division of the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate, was formed to manage all public transport operations within the Australian Capital Territory including ACTION bus services and light rail planning and construction, previously managed by the Capital Metro Agency.[1]

Ticketing

Canberra has an integrated ticketing system between bus and light rail using the MyWay, a smartcard system introduced in 2011 by ACTION, now Transport Canberra.[2]

Bus

ACTION
ACTION Bustech bodied Scania K320UB in November 2019
Main article: ACTION

The largest public transport operator is the Australian Capital Territory Government-owned ACTION. In July 1926 the Federal Capital Commission commenced operating bus services in Canberra. With the opening of Old Parliament House in May 1927 and the associated relocation of Australian Commonwealth Government departments to Canberra, the frequency of service offered by the Canberra City Omnibus Service increased as the population of the new city grew.

During the early 1950s, bus services were expanded to Narrabundah, Yarralumla and O'Connor. These routes were extended further in the late 1950s with the development of Dickson and Campbell.

In August 1963 the first Woden Valley services were introduced. Similar early services were provided for other areas. From 1961 the new Russell Offices complex demanded a growing number of additional peak services, including feeders from the City. The Canberra fleet grew from 25 buses in 1942 to over 90 in 1966.

In March 1968 a reformed bus network was introduced. This involved new bus timetables and driver schedules, based on regular services on all routes throughout the day with synchronised movements through the main centres. In February 1977, a new system was unveiled and the operation renamed Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network (ACTION).

Today ACTION operates routes throughout the Australian Capital Territory with a fleet of 456 buses.[3]

Qcity Transit
Qcity Transit Volgren bodied Volvo B7RLE in June 2018
Main article: Qcity Transit

Qcity Transit operates bus services from the neighbouring city of Queanbeyan into Canberra City. As well as these services it also has services that can run to the town of Yass It is owned by ComfortDelGro Australia, who purchased the business in August 2012.[4][5]

Qcity Transit is permitted to carry passengers within the Australian Capital Territory, with the previous restriction being lifted in June 2012.[6]

Transborder Express
Main article: Transborder Express

Transborder Express operates weekday services between Canberra and Yass via Hall and Murrumbateman.[7] It is a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro Australia and operates under the same management as Qcity Transit.

Airport Express

Royale Limousines operate the Canberra Airport shuttle service with regular daytime services operating seven days a week.[8]

Coach
Murrays BCI JXK613 coach in Canberra in January 2011

Canberra is serviced by a number of long distance coach operators.

Rail
Canberra railway station
Urbos 3 tram in May 2019

Heavy

Walter Burley Griffin's masterplan for Canberra included a railway that was to run from Queanbeyan to the current Canberra railway station in Kingston then north along the causeway and over the Molonglo River to Russell, along Amaroo Street to Civic and then north out of the city along Lonsdale and Ijong Streets. But aside from the current section, the only other part constructed was the line as far as Civic, albeit to temporary standards to carry construction materials, this was removed in 1940.[14]

Canberra has been serviced by trains from Sydney since March 1927 with the Federal City Express, Canberra Monaro Express, Southern Highlands Express and Canberra Express all having provided this link, the latter being operated by an XPT from August 1983 until February 1990. An overnight service was provided with a carriage detached from the Cooma Mail at Queanbeyan. From April 1962 until March 1975 a through carriage was detached from the Spirit of Progress at Goulburn providing a connection with Melbourne.[14]

Today Canberra is serviced by three daily NSW TrainLink Xplorer services each way with four carriages to Sydney.[11]

Light
Main article: Light rail in Canberra

The Canberra light rail stage 1 operates between Gungahlin and Canberra City, travelling along Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue.[15] An extension to Woden Valley (stage 2) is proposed.

High speed
Main article: High-speed rail in Australia

Canberra has been on the map of various high-speed rail proposals since 1984. The last serious attempt with government backing was terminated in December 2000.[16]

Air
Virgin Australia Embraer E190s at Canberra Airport in July 2013
Main article: Canberra Airport

Canberra is serviced by Qantas, QantasLink, Virgin Australia and FlyPelican with services to Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Newcastle and Dubbo. In September 2016, Singapore Airlines commenced operating international flights to Singapore and Wellington, and in February 2018, Qatar Airways commenced operating international flights to Doha.[17]

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References
  1. "Transport Canberra and City Services: Annual Report 2016-17 Volume 1" (PDF). Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  2. MyWay Transport for Canberra
  3. ACTION Fleet Summary ACT Bus Wiki
  4. Foreign firm to pay $53m for Qbn buses Canberra Times 3 August 2012
  5. "Deane's Transit Group Queanbeyan-Canberra" Australian Bus March 2013 page 10
  6. Letter to Standing Committee on Planning & Environment Deane's Buslines April 2007
  7. "Timetables". Transborder Express. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  8. "Airport Express timetable" (PDF). Royale Coach. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  9. Timetables Greyhound Australia
  10. Express Services Murrays
  11. "Southern timetable". NSW Trainlink. 7 September 2019.
  12. Canberra Link Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine V/Line 28 April 2013
  13. Capital Link Archived 2013-12-27 at the Wayback Machine V/Line 28 April 2013
  14. Stokes, HJW (1984). Railways of the Canberra and Monaro Districts. Canberra: Australian Railway Historical Society, ACT Division.
  15. Light Rail Integration Study ACT Government 20 November 2013
  16. Australia the 'big loser' in Speedrail dumping Railway Gazette International 1 January 2001
  17. Now flying daily from Canberra Qatar Airlines Accessed 20 October 2019
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