Transport Canberra will introduce an updated network and timetable from Monday 20 July that will make improvements to the frequency of services to improve capacity on the bus network and return Rapid bus services to West Belconnen.
These improvements will begin from the first day of school term 3 and follow a period of extensive monitoring and analysis of the road network during the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal project, and the operation of the 'construction bus network' and timetable from February.
The improvements to Rapid buses include:
- Extending the R2 and R3 through to West Belconnen
- An increase in frequency for the R4 and R5 to and from Canberra's south
- An increase in frequency for the R6 to and from Woden
The package will also include some more minor refinements to local and school services to better reflect actual travel conditions.
Jeremy Smith, Executive Group Manager, Transport Canberra, said the July improvements build on refinements introduced in April to maintain service reliability and minimise the early running of buses.
"With travel impacts of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge works now known, Transport Canberra is increasing the frequency and capacity of key bus routes across the network as early as possible," Mr Smith said.
"The R2 and R3 are important for many people in the Belconnen community and we are pleased to return these Rapid buses to their original routes serving West Belconnen.
"We've also been able to keep the R6 and R5 running through to Belconnen to provide additional capacity in the network, as these rapid buses have been well utilised by Belconnen residents since these route extensions were introduced for the first time in February.
"Transport Canberra is also responding to crowding on the R4 and R5 services by providing additional services to increase the frequency and capacity to carry the load."
The reinstatement of Rapid 2 and Rapid 3 will restore continuous services between Fraser and Fyshwick, and between Spence and Canberra Airport, replacing the temporary routes 12 and 13.
Other improved services from Monday 20 July 2026 include:
- Regular services: 19, 26, 56, 63, 66 and 81
- School services: 1019, 1022, 1023, 1031, 1041, 1054, 2030, 2032, 2046, 2048, 2049, 2054, 2090 and 2093
- Schools impacted: Alfred Deakin High School, Campbell Primary School, Campbell High School, Canberra Grammer, Canberra High School, Daramalan College, Emmaus Christian School, Marist College, Melrose High, Merici College, Mount Stromlo High School, St Francis Xavier College, St John the Apostle Primary School, St Thomas More's Primary School.
A summary of all bus network improvements can be found on the Transport Canberra website.
Updated timetables and school information packs will be made available for the community before the end of school term 2 in June 2026.
As always, students and families will be encouraged to check updated timetables and school information packs when available and before they return to school on Monday 20 July.
