Public transport in Christchurch

Public transport in Christchurch, New Zealand, consists of bus services operated by two bus companies supported by a ferry, all jointly marketed as Metro.

Metro
The new Bus Interchange in August 2015
LocaleNew Zealand
Service areaChristchurch
Service typeBus services
Fuel typeDiesel, biodiesel, electric
OperatorRed Bus Ltd
Go Bus Christchurch
Black Cat Ltd[1]
Websitemetroinfo.co.nz metroinfo.org.nz (Redirects)
Metrocard issued by Environment Canterbury for use on Metro services
Metrostickki (mobile version) issued by Environment Canterbury for use on Metro services

Overview

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 18s receive a discount, and senior citizens travel free on off-peak services (9:00am to 3:00pm and after 6:30pm weekdays, all day weekends and public holidays).

'Real-time' bus arrival times are displayed on electronic displays at bus stops, online and mobile (cellphone) WAP.

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.

Operations

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 he 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.

Bus interchange

2000–2011

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.

2011–2015

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".[2]

2015 Bus interchange
Opening

The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) was unveiled on 30 July 2012,[3] which had an indicative time-frame for a new Bus Interchange building to be open by June 2014.[4] Central Station was in use until 25 May 2015, when Christchurch's new $53 million Bus Interchange building opened,[5] 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.[6]

Services

Part of the hub and spoke model network is that many passengers need to interchange to other buses at suburban centres.[7] The 4 Metro Line services, which cross the city every 10 to 15 minutes, serve the Interchange,[8] but the Orbiter doesn't.[7] The Interchange also provides for the less frequent buses, longer distance coaches (on Lichfield St, except for Newmans to Queenstown),[9] taxis, cyclists and pedestrians.[8]

Design

Architectus and Aurecon designed the interchange and Thiess and Southbase Construction built it.[8]

To save space a ‘reversing bus bay’ design of 16 bays[10] has a 7 m (23 ft) backing lane, separated from the 5 m (16 ft) wide circulation lane.[8]

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.[10] 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[8] are on two levels and there are e-bike chargers.[11] There are also toilets, luggage lockers and an information counter. Tactile paving guides sight impaired passengers.[12] A large canopy and verandas provide shelter outside.[8]

Riccarton Road lounge

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.[13] It wasn't until 14 December 2015 that the Riccarton Road lounge, on the corner with Division Street, finally opened.[14]

  • The city's Bus Exchange on Lichfield Street, which operated from November 2000 to February 2011
  • Temporary bus stations were set up after the February 2011 earthquake at the edge of the city centre
  • The temporary Central Station in November 2011
  • View of the new Bus Interchange along Lichfield Street, opposite the former exchange

Bus services
Oversimplified map of the Christchurch Metro Network

On 8 December 2014, a new bus network was launched offering three types of bus services. Five colour-coded frequent bus routes (the Metro Lines) run through Christchurch's major road corridors, connecting people to popular destinations.

City Connectors (buses with two numbers) allow people to travel from outer suburbs and satellite towns direct to the city.[15]

Suburban Links (buses with three numbers) 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.[15]

The following services are operated under the Metro brand:


Metro Lines
# Route Name Start Major destinations End Notes
Or Orbiter Eastgate Mall St Martins Shops, Princess Margaret Hospital, Barrington Mall, Riccarton Mall, Canterbury University, Northlands Mall, The Palms Mall Eastgate Mall
B Blue Line Princess Margaret Hospital

or Cashmere

 Cashmere, Princess Margaret Hospital, Sydenham Shops, Bus Interchange, Bealey Ave, Northlands Mall, Belfast, Kaiapoi Rangiora Every other service continues to

Rangiora

Bx Blue Line

Express

 Ara Institute Bus Interchange, Bealey Ave, Northlands Mall, Belfast, Kaiapoi Rangiora Pickup or drop-off only in certain areas

during certain times, (week day, peak)

P Purple Line Airport or Sheffield Crescent Avonhead Mall, Canterbury University, Riccarton Mall, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange, Ara Institute, Ferrymead Shops Sumner Alternates between Airport and

Sheffield Crescent, One trip per

day to NTA (weekdays)

Y Yellow Line Rolleston Templeton, Hornby Hub, Church Corner, Riccarton Mall, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange, Fitzgerald Ave, Eastgate Mall New Brighton Every other service continues to

Rolleston

Yx Yellow Line

Express

 Rolleston Templeton, Hornby Hub, Church Corner, Riccarton Mall, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange Ara Institute Pickup or drop-off only in certain areas

during certain times, (week day, peak)

O Orange Line Halswell Addington, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange, The Palms Mall, Burwood Hospital Queenspark

City Connector services
# Route Name Start Major destinations End Notes
17 Bryndwr to Hunstbury Sheffield Crescent Sir William Pickering Dr, Rossall St/Leinster Road, Park Tce, Bus Interchange, Moorhouse Ave, Waltham, St Martins Huntsbury
28 Northwood to Lyttelton Northwood Casebrook, Northlands Mall, Cranford Street, Edgeware, Bus Interchange, Sydenham Shops, Opawa, Heathcote, Lyttelton Lyttelton Wharf or Rapaki 2 all-stop trips per day to and from Rapaki (weekdays)
28x Rapaki Express Manchester Street

Super Stop

 Bus Interchange, Lyttelton, Lyttelton Wharf Rapaki 1 express trip per day (weekdays)
29 Airport to City via Fendalton Bus Interchange Fendalton Airport
44 Dallington via Shirley Dallington The Palms Mall, Shirley, Warrington St Shops, Bus Interchange Ara Institute of Canterbury
45 Westmorland to City Westmorland Westmorland, Barrington Mall, Sydenham Shops, Bus Interchange Bus Interchange Replaced 145 service
60 Hillmorton to Southshore Aidanfield Hillmorton, Barrington Mall, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange, The Palms Mall, Travis Rd, New Brighton Southshore
80 Lincoln to Parklands Lincoln University Lincoln Town, Prebbleton, Riccarton Mall, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange, Eastgate Mall Parklands
80x Lincoln Express Lincoln University Lincoln Town, Prebbleton, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange Ara Institute of Canterbury Pickup or drop-off only in certain areas during certain times, Via Motorway
85 Rolleston to City non-stop Rolleston Rolleston, Chch Hospital, Bus Interchange, Ara Institute Ara Institute of Canterbury Pickup or drop-off only in certain areas during certain times
86 Darfield to City Darfield Darfield, Kirwee, West Melton, Westfield Riccarton, Bus Interchange, Manchester Street Superstop Manchester Street Superstop Trial Service. Pickup or drop-off only in certain areas during certain times
87 Southbridge to City Southbridge Southbridge, Leeston, Doyleston, Irwell, Springston, The Hub Hornby, Westfield Riccarton, Bus Interchange, Manchester Street Superstop Manchester Street Superstop Trial Service. Pickup or drop-off only in certain areas during certain times
95 Waikuku and Pegasus Waikuku Beach Pegasus, Woodend, Kaiapoi, Belfast, Northlands, Bealey Ave, Bus Interchange Ara Institute of Canterbury
95x Waikuku Express Waikuku Beach Woodend, Kaiapoi, Belfast, Northlands, Bealey Ave, Bus Interchange Ara Institute of Canterbury Pickup or drop-off only in certain areas during certain times
# Route Name Start Major destinations End Notes
100 Wigram to The Palms Halswell Wigram, Church Corner, Canterbury University, Riccarton Mall, Merivale Mall The Palms Mall
107 Styx Mill to Northlands Northwood Supa Centa Northwood, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Styx Mill, Veitches Road Northlands Mall
120 Burnside to Spreydon Sheffield Crescent Burnside, Canterbury University, Riccarton Mall, Addington, Spreydon Barrington Mall
125 Redwood to Westlake Redwood Northlands Mall, Bishopdale Mall, Airport, Avonhead Mall, Hornby Hub, Westlake Halswell
130 Hei Hei to Avonhead Hornby Hub Heihei, Church Corner, Riccarton Mall, Canterbury University, Avonhead Mall Burnside High School
135 The Palms to New Brighton The Palms The Palms, Prestons, Burwood Hospital, QE II Taiora, New Brighton New Brighton Route cutback, merged with 150 in 2018 network consultation
140 Russley to Mt Pleasant Hornby Hub Russley, Church Corner, Westfield Riccarton, Moorhouse Ave, Eastgate Mall, Ferrymead Shops Mt Pleasant
155 Lyttelton to Eastgate Shopper Service Lyttelton Wharf Lyttelton Wharf, Ferrymead, Tannery, Eastgate Mall Eastgate Mall Replaced 535 service
820 Burnham to Lincoln Burnham Izone Business Park, Rolleston, Springston, Lincoln University Lincoln

Bikes on buses
Sportworks double bicycle carrier mounted on a Redbus

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.[16] Bike racks on buses are provided on all suburban buses now. Other towns have now followed the example, including Dunedin,[17] Feilding,[18] Gisborne,[19] Hawkes Bay,[20] Invercargill,[21] Nelson,[22] New Plymouth,[23] Palmerston North,[24] Taupo,[25] Tauranga, Rotorua,[26] Waiheke Island,[27] Wellington[28] and Whangarei[29]

Other transport services

Taxis

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

Airport transport

Christchurch International Airport is served by buses and shuttle vans.

  • Three bus routes are available from the airport bus stand located outside the International Arrivals Terminal;
    • the Purple Line (via Avonhead & City to Sumner)
    • the number 29 bus (via Fendalton to City)
    • the 125 Redwood via Papanui or West lake via Hornby
  • Shuttle vans provided by several operators, including most taxi companies, provide door-to-door transport to and from the Airport.

Diamond Harbour ferry

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.

Christchurch Tramway
Christchurch Brill Tram No 178 on the heritage tramway

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,[30] 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).

Heavy rail
Main article: 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.[31] In an article dated August 2014, it was subsequently confirmed that the city council were to discuss the possibility with the NZ Transport Agency.[32]

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References
  1. "About Metro". Metroinfo. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  2. Mathewson, Nicole (17 October 2011). "Temporary hub will 'restore vibrancy' to city". The Press. p. A3. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  3. Cairns, Lois (30 July 2012). "Rebuild plan for Christchurch unveiled". The Press. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  4. Christchurch Central Recovery Plan. Christchurch: Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. 30 July 2012. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-478-39718-5.
  5. Meier, Cecile (25 May 2015). "Christchurch bus interchange opens". The Press. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  6. "Your new Bus Interchange". www.metroinfo.co.nz. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  7. "Metro Bus Services Review May 2014". www.metroinfo.co.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  8. "Bus Interchange: Frequently Asked Questions". www.metroinfo.co.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  9. "Christchurch – Bus Timetable // Search Bus Fares From Christchurch". www.intercity.co.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  10. "Christchurch Bus Interchange / Architectus". ArchDaily. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  11. "Inside the new bus interchange whats in it for cycling". Cycling Christchurch. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015.
  12. "Bus Interchange". www.metroinfo.co.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  13. "Bus lounge date missed fourth time". The Press. 4 December 2015. p. A4. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  14. "Riccarton Rd bus lounge now open". The Press. 15 December 2015. p. A5. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  15. "Metro Network" (PDF). Metroinfo. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  16. "Bike-carrying racks on more bus routes from November". Christchurch: Environment Canterbury. 29 January 2009. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  17. "Dunedin bus network changes effective from 1 July 2015 | Otago Regional Council". www.orc.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  18. "Bike racks, additional routes and services for Feilding | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  19. "Bus Tender (Contract EW12/11) Tender Evaluation Report" (PDF). Gisborne District Council.
  20. "Bikes join ride on local buses". Hawke's Bay Today. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  21. "Buses – Invercargill City Council". Invercargill City Council. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  22. "Bus service a winner". Nelson Mail. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  23. "Bikes on buses » Taranaki Regional Council". www.trc.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  24. "Bus Timetable PALMERSTON NORTH URBAN" (PDF). horizons. 31 July 2017.
  25. "Taupo Connector". Waikato Regional Council. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  26. "Tauranga to get bike racks for buses". NZ Herald. 25 August 2017. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  27. "Bikes & public transport". at.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  28. "Bike racks on buses – Metlink". www.metlink.org.nz. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  29. "Bus your Bike – CityLink Whangarei". CityLink Whangarei. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  30. Douglass, Malcolm (2006). A Wheel on Each Corner: The History of the IPENZ Transportation Group 1956–2006. IPENZ Transportation Group. p. 12.
  31. "Christchurch City council urged to look at commuter rail | News | Stuff.co.nz". I.stuff.co.nz. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  32. "Council keen to investigate commuter rail for northern Christchurch | News | Stuff.co.nz". I.stuff.co.nz. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
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