Bustech bodied Scania K320UB at City Interchange in November 2019
ParentTransport Canberra & City Services
Commenced operation19 July 1926
HeadquartersGreenway
LocaleCanberra
Service typeBus services
HubsCity Interchange
Depots3
Fleet458 (December 2021)
Annual ridership17.8 million (2015/16)
Chief Operating OfficerBren Burkevics
Websitewww.transport.act.gov.au

ACTION (Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network) is a bus operator in Canberra, Australia, and is owned by the Government of the Australian Capital Territory.

History

Ansair bodied Mercedes-Benz O305 at Spence in 1982
Ansair bodied Renault PR100.2
Custom Coaches bodied Irisbus Agora Line at Gungahlin Town Centre in January 2010
Custom Coaches bodied MAN 18.320 on Blue Rapid route 313
Custom Coaches bodied Scania K320UB at City Interchange in July 2012
Custom Coaches bodied Scania K360UA in Wagga Wagga in September 2012

On 19 July 1926, the Federal Capital Commission commenced operating public bus services between Eastlake (now Kingston) in the south and Ainslie in the north.[1]

The service was first known as Canberra City Omnibus Service, but it has had a number of names over the years, including Canberra City Bus Service, Canberra Omnibus Service and Canberra Bus Service. On 14 February 1977, it was renamed as the Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network, or ACTION for short.[1][2]

In 1976, Canberra became the first city in Australia to operate articulated buses after the purchase of 25 MAN SG192s.[3][4] In May 1982, ACTION commenced operating the Canberra Explorer in a joint venture with Murrays.[5]

As part of the move to ACT self-government, responsibility for ACTION passed from the Federal Government to the ACT Government in 1989. In 2001, ACTION became a statutory authority.[6]

Network 2019

In June 2018, the ACT Government released a proposal for changes to the bus network to coincide with the opening of the Light Rail which included a 7-day network with 10 rapid routes and an overhaul of the route numbers.[7] The proposed changes caused controversy due to changes to school services and the removal of all Xpresso services.[8] Public consultation for the proposal lasted between June and August 2018 and a modified proposal was released in October 2018.[9][10] The starting date of the new bus network was pushed back to 29 April 2019 due to delays on the construction of the Light Rail.[11]

Corporate structure

ACTION is a business unit of the Public Transport Division of Transport Canberra & City Services. Transport Canberra was formed on 1 July 2016 by combining the Public Transport Division and Capital Metro Agency to manage all public transport operations within the ACT.[12][13][14]

Current routes

ACTION operates a 7-day network of bus routes including nine main routes and 48 local routes.[15]

R2

Route R2 is a limited stop service between Fraser, Kippax, Belconnen, City, Parkes, Barton and Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick (at the Canberra Outlet Centre).

It operates at a 15-minute frequency on weekdays and it operates at a 30-minute frequency on weekends and public holidays.[16]

R3

Route R3 is a limited stop service between Spence, Belconnen, City, Russell Offices and Canberra Airport.

It operates at a 15-minute frequency on weekdays and it operates at a 30-minute frequency on weekends and public holidays.[17]

R4

Route R4 services provide a high-frequency link between Belconnen, City, Woden and Tuggeranong.

It operates at a 5 to 10-minute frequency on weekdays and it operates at a 15-minute frequency on weekends and public holidays.[18]

R5

Route R5 is a high-frequency link between the City, Woden, Erindale Centre, Calwell Centre and Lanyon Marketplace.

It operates at a 15-minute frequency on weekdays and it operates at a 30-minute frequency on weekends and public holidays.[19]

R6

Route R6 is a high-frequency link between the City, Parkes, Barton, Kingston, Manuka, Narrabundah, the Canberra Hospital and Woden.

It operates at a 15-minute frequency on weekdays and it operates at a 30-minute frequency on weekends and public holidays.[20]

R7

Route R7 is an express link between the City, Cooleman Court and Chapman.

It operates at a 15-minute frequency on weekdays and it operates at a 30-minute frequency on weekends and public holidays.[21]

R8

Route R8 is a direct main route between the Gungahlin Town Centre and the bus stations at Belconnen.

It operates at a 15-minute frequency on weekdays and it operates at a 30-minute frequency on weekends and public holidays.[22]

R9

Route R9 is an east-west link between Belconnen, Canberra Stadium, Dickson and Watson.

It operates at a 15-minute frequency on weekdays and it operates at a 30-minute frequency on weekends and public holidays.[23]

R10

Route R10 is a direct link between Denman Prospect and the City.

It operates at a 30-minute frequency on weekdays, weekends and public holidays.[24]

Regular route services

ACTION's regular weekday services operate either as feeder services to a single town centre or connect two or three town centres via suburban streets.

During weekends and public holidays, ACTION provides a reduced level of service with most suburban routes operating with an hourly or two-hourly frequency.

Other peak services

ACTION operates 3 weekday peak hour routes as an express service between outer suburbs of Tuggeranong and the City. These routes are numbered in the 100 series.

ACTION trialled a shuttle bus loop service from Canberra Airport to the Fairbairn Business Park on a three month trial basis. The service operated from 7am until 10am in the morning and again from 4pm until 7pm in the afternoon on weekdays.[25]

School services

School services are provided by ACTION to schools and colleges throughout the ACT. These are numbered in the 1000 and 2000 series.[26]

Special needs transport

ACTION also operates the special needs transport division which provides transport for school students with a disability. This division is operated using a dedicated fleet of wheelchair-accessible minibuses.

Flexible bus service

The Flexible bus service operates on weekdays to provide a free, basic bus service to passengers with limited access to normal public transport options.[27] Six services operate daily providing a pick up service in the morning from designated suburbs to shopping centres and hospitals, with return services operating in the afternoon.

These bus services are operated by the special needs transport minibuses.

Ticketing

Cash fares

There are four cash fare options on ACTION:

  • Adult Single (with 90-minute transfer)
  • Adult Daily
  • Concession Single (with 90-minute transfer)
  • Concession Daily

Concession tickets are available to school students, full-time tertiary students, seniors card holders and various government concession card holders.[28]

Pre-paid fares

The pre-paid ticketing system operated by the ACT Government is known as MyWay.[29] It uses contactless smart cards with MIFARE-Technology onto which credit is loaded. Passengers are required to 'tag on' when boarding the bus and 'tag off' when exiting, at which point the appropriate fare is calculated and, if required, deducted from the stored value on the MyWay card.

The MyWay system uses Parkeon software and equipment including Wayfarer 200 consoles[30] and Axio card readers.[31] The system was built and installed by Parkeon's Australian distributor, Downer EDi.[32] Instead of being developed from scratch, MyWay was adapted from Transperth's SmartRider system which also uses Parkeon hardware and software.[33][34]

Fleet

As at February 2023, ACTION's route service fleet consisted of 459 buses.[35]

Chassis Body Type Air con Bike rack fitted Easy Access Notes Number in service Image
Renault PR100.2 Ansair[36] Step entrance rigid, Diesel ✓ Branded as Macks 33
Irisbus Agora Custom Coaches CB60[37] Low-floor rigid, Euro II Diesel ✓ ✓ ✓ Originally ordered by King Brothers 18
Scania L94UB Custom Coaches CB60[38] Low-floor rigid, CNG ✓ ✓ ✓ 54
MAN A69 18.310 HOCL-NL Custom Coaches CB60 Evo II[39] Low-floor rigid, CNG ✓ ✓ ✓ 16
MAN A69 18.310 HOCL-R-NL Custom Coaches CB60 Evo II Low-floor rigid, Euro IV Diesel ✓ ✓ ✓ 2
MAN A69 18.320 HOCL-NL/E5 Custom Coaches CB60 Evo II[40] Low-floor rigid, Euro V Diesel ✓ ✓ ✓ 87
Scania K320UB 6x2*4 Custom Coaches CB60 Evo II[41] Low-floor rigid tri-axle (steerable-tag), Euro V Diesel ✓ ✓ 26
Scania K360UA 6x2/2 Custom CB80[42] Low-floor articulated, Euro V/EEV Diesel ✓ ✓ ✓ Fitted with bike racks in June 2017[43] 33
Scania K320UB 4x2 Custom CB80 Low-floor rigid, Euro VI Diesel ✓ ✓ ✓ 82
Scania K320UB 4x2 Bustech VST Low-floor rigid, Euro VI Diesel ✓ ✓ ✓ [44] 71
Scania K360UA 6x2/2 Volgren Optimus Low-floor articulated, Euro VI/EEV Diesel ✓ ✓ ✓ 11
Scania K320UB 4x2 Volgren Optimus Low-floor rigid, Euro VI Diesel ✓ ✓ ✓ 20
Hino Poncho Low-floor midibus, Euro V Diesel ✓ ✓ Only operates on route 903 2
Yutong ZK6131HG1 Yutong E12 Low-floor rigid, Battery electric ✓ ✓ ✓ 12

Bicycle racks have been fitted to the front of 94% of the buses in the fleet. Each rack can hold two bicycles. Passengers may load a bicycle onto the rack for free, but must pay a regular fare to travel on the bus.[45]

Apart from buses with all over advertising or special designs, ACTION's fleet sport either a blue, orange and white (Renault buses) or a green, orange and white livery (all other buses). In December 2016, a predominantly blue livery was introduced.[46][47]

ACTION's Special Needs Transport division operates a fleet of eighteen Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa minibuses. These buses are white in colour and do not operate on route services.

ACTION also operate Toyota Hiace Commuter and Hyundai iMax vans which can be used to transport passengers, Hino Dutro trucks used by mechanics to attend broken down buses and a single Mack tow truck.

ACTION's heritage fleet consists of a 1949 AEC Regal III[48] and a 1961 AEC Reliance.

History

Until the mid-1970s, purchases mainly comprised heavyweight British built AEC and Leyland chassis before a switch was made to European chassis. In 1972, the first Volvo B58s were purchased. These were followed by MAN SL200s from 1975, articulated MAN SG192s from 1976, Mercedes-Benz O305s from 1981, articulated O305Gs from 1982, Renault PR100.2s from 1986, articulated Renault PR180.2s from 1988 and Renault PR100.3s from 1994. The Renaults were badged as Macks although they carried the Renault diamond badge.[49]

Although primarily purchasing new buses, ACTION has on occasions purchased and hired second-hand buses. With industrial action in England causing a shortage of both chassis and parts at a time Canberra was undergoing phenomenal growth, in February 1974, 12 Leyland OPS2/1s were hired from the Public Transport Commission.[50][51][52][53] In June 1974 the entire 10 bus fleet of Bedford, Ford and Thornycroft buses of recently ceased operator Bowden's Bus Service of Tamarama was purchased.[54] A number of Bedfords and Fords were purchased from dealer's stock.[55]

In 1997, 25 Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Darts were imported from Northern Ireland.[56][57]

In 2001, 17 former North & Western Bus Lines Hino RG197Ks were leased from Sydney Buses for a short period.[58][59] In February 2004, 20 Custom Coaches bodied Irisbus Agoras built for, but not delivered to King Brothers entered service.

Livery

Fleet livery was originally fawn with a yellow stripe. This was replaced by the 1960s by a coffee body with arctic green window area and red stripe. In 1973, a yellow body with arctic green window surrounds and light blue stripe livery was introduced.[60][61] This was replaced in 2004 by the current white, green and orange livery.

Registrations

Initially buses were registered in the C**** series. By the 1960s, buses were registered as ZIB*** in the Commonwealth of Australia series. In May 1989, the fleet was reregistered onto ACT Government BUS*** plates.[62][63]

Infrastructure

Depots

Belconnen Bus Depot in November 2009

ACTION operates three depots:

  • Woden Bus Depot, Prospect Court, Phillip opened 16 April 1974,[1] closing in February 1997[64] before reopening in 2009.[65] From 2009 it housed the Special Needs Transport minibus fleet and buses which are not in service. It was demolished in 2018 with a new depot currently being built.[66][67]
  • Belconnen Bus Depot, Cohen Street, Belconnen opened 3 September 1979,[1] [68] includes a bus wash, workshop, undercover bus parking, diesel refill, drivers amenities and administrative area.
  • Tuggeranong Bus Depot, Scollay Street, Greenway opened in August 1989,[69] includes a bus wash, workshop, undercover bus parking, CNG and diesel fuelling facilities, drivers amenities and administrative area.

Bus Stations

Belconnen Community Bus Station in January 2011

ACTION operates seven bus stations, which act as hubs for the districts of Canberra.[70]

City Interchange is located on East Row, Mort Street and Alinga Street. Limited local access is permitted on Mort and Alinga Streets, while East Row is a bus-only street. Since April 2019, several major routes stop in the part of Aligna Street to the west of Northbourne Avenue, but it continued to be open to traffic until 26 July 2019. Woden and Tuggeranong Interchange are off street stations which permit access only to buses, essential traffic and emergency vehicles.

Belconnen Town Centre is serviced by two bus stations located along Cohen Street: Cohen Street Bus Station (located outside the Belconnen Bus Depot near the intersection with Josephson Street, opened in May 2009)[74][75] and Belconnen Community Bus Station (located between Benjamin Way and Emu Bank, at the site of the former Belconnen Interchange, opened in November 2010).[76] In addition, a major stop is located outside Westfield Belconnen, near the intersection of Cohen and Lathlain Streets. All bus routes travelling to or through Belconnen Town Centre service all three locations. Additional stops are located on Emu Bank and Eastern Valley Way which are serviced by most routes which travel through Belconnen Town Centre.[77]

Bus shelters

Concrete bunker shelter outside Old Parliament House, Parkes

Bus shelters installed at stops include what is referred to as a "concrete bunker" which were first installed in May 1975.[78] More modern shelters include glass-sided Adshel shelters (both with and without advertising) which were first installed in 2007[79] and CAM (Community Asset Management NZ Limited) shelters which were first installed in 2012.[80]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Canberra's Engineering Heritage Engineering Heritage Australia
  2. ↑ Bus Archived 24 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 15 February 1977 page 3
  3. ↑ Articulated bus in service Truck & Bus Transportation January 1977 page 106
  4. ↑ The evolution of articulated buses in Canberra Archived 1 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine ACT Bus
  5. ↑ Canberra Explorer provides a new look at national capital Truck & Bus Transportation May 1982 page 93
  6. ↑ ACTION to be a Statutory Authority Fleetline issue 274 September 2001 page 143
  7. ↑ More services, fewer stops: check out Canberra's new bus network Archived 20 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 18 June 2018
  8. ↑ What will Canberra's new bus network mean for students? Archived 20 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times
  9. ↑ "A New Bus Network For Canberra". ACT Government - Yoursay. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  10. ↑ "ACT Government announces new plans for bus network following public backlash". RiotAct. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  11. ↑ Canberra's bus network pushed back after light rail delays Archived 17 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 29 November 2018
  12. ↑ "Transport Canberra - Public Transport Improvement Plan 2015" (PDF). ACT Government. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2016.
  13. ↑ ACTION and Capital Metro Agency to be rolled into one from 2016 Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 27 October 2015
  14. ↑ Transport Canberra Service Archived 12 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine Australasian Bus & Coach 5 July 2016
  15. ↑ Timetables Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  16. ↑ Route R2 Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  17. ↑ Route R3 Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  18. ↑ Route R4 Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  19. ↑ Route R5 Archived 21 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  20. ↑ Route R6 Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  21. ↑ Route R7 Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  22. ↑ Route R8 Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  23. ↑ Route R9 Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  24. ↑ Route R10 Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  25. ↑ "A new loop service for Fairbairn A new loop service for Fairbairn". Transport Canberra. ACT Government. 25 July 2022. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  26. ↑ School Routes By Number Archived 28 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport Canberra
  27. ↑ "Accessible Public Transport". Transport for Canberra. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  28. ↑ "Concessions". Transport for Canberra. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  29. ↑ "MyWay". ACT Government - Transport For Canberra. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  30. ↑ "Wayfarer 200". Parkeon. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  31. ↑ "Axio". Parkeon. Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  32. ↑ "Parkeon wins again down under" (Press release). Parkeon. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  33. ↑ Banks, Lisa (24 August 2011). "Canberra MyWay user base reaches 86,000". Computerworld. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  34. ↑ WA ticket validating machine system for Canberra buses Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine Government of Western Australia 31 May 1993
  35. ↑ Fleet Summary Archived 4 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine ACT Bus Wiki
  36. ↑ Renault PR100.2 Mk II ACTION
  37. ↑ Irisbus Agoraline CB60 Low Floor - Diesel ACTION
  38. ↑ Scania L94UB CB60 Low Floor - CNG ACTION
  39. ↑ MAN A69 18.310 HOCLNL CNG Low Floor ACTION
  40. ↑ MAN A69 18.320 HOUCL-R-NL Diesel Low Floor ACTION
  41. ↑ Scania K320UB 14.5m 6x2*4 CB60 Low Floor Diesel ACTION
  42. ↑ Scania K360UA 6x2/2 CB80 Low Floor EEV Diesel ACTION
  43. ↑ Bike Racks to be fitted to articulated buses Transport Canberra
  44. ↑ 40 new diesel-powered buses to join Transport Canberra's fleet Archived 14 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 18 November 2019
  45. ↑ "Bike Racks on Buses". ACTION. Archived from the original on 16 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  46. ↑ New ACTION buses to be blue, light rail trams to be red Archived 20 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 14 December 2016
  47. ↑ New Transport Canberra Livery Archived 12 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine Australasian Bus & Coach 20 December 2016
  48. ↑ "Entry to the ACT Heritage Register" (PDF). ACT Heritage Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  49. ↑ Canberra Transit Australia June 1987 page 119
  50. ↑ Sydney Buses lend to DCT Electric Traction March 1964 pages 15/16
  51. ↑ Sydney 31 seaters move south Trolley Wire issue 153 August 1974 page 14
  52. ↑ Travers, Greg (1982). From City to Suburb...a fifty year journey. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. p. 175. ISBN 0-9596016-2-7.
  53. ↑ Leyland OPS2/1 Archived 16 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  54. ↑ Travers, Greg (1979). The Australian Private Bus. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. p. 34. ISBN 0-9596016-1-9.
  55. ↑ New bus services affected by hold-ups in deliveries Truck & Bus Transportation March 1974 page 123
  56. ↑ Irish builder to supply buses to Canberra Truck & Bus Transportation January 1997 page 65
  57. ↑ Low-Floor Buses Fleetline issue 249 July 1997 page 132
  58. ↑ State Transit Hinos Fleetline issue 274 September 2001 page 144
  59. ↑ North & Western Bus Lines Archived 17 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  60. ↑ Yellow Buses for Canberra Electric Traction August 1973 page 16
  61. ↑ Pascoe, Les (1984). Bus Fleets - ACTION. Elizabeth, South Australia: Railmac Publications. p. 2. ISBN 0949817-27-9.
  62. ↑ Australian Capital Territory - ACTION Australian Bus Panorama issue 5/2 September 1989 page 33
  63. ↑ BUS rego numbers Truck & Bus Transportation November 1989 page 146
  64. ↑ "Australian Capital Territory - ACTION" Australian Bus Panorama issue 12/6 June 1997 page 22
  65. ↑ Recommendation 22 Report on Inquiry into ACTION Buses and the Sustainable Transport Plan Archived 6 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine ACT Government October 2009
  66. ↑ Preliminary Design Consultancy for the new Woden Bus Depot ACT Government December 2017
  67. ↑ Old Woden bus depot to be demolished to make way for storehouse for 120 buses Archived 16 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 14 January 2018
  68. ↑ Another Big Change Fleetline issue 51 October 1979 page 16
  69. ↑ New Depot Opens Fleetline October 1989 page 154
  70. ↑ "Network Maps and Station Guides". Transport Canberra. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  71. ↑ No timetable changes, adequate transfer time Canberra Times 22 November 1982 page 15
  72. ↑ Improved bus service at Woden Canberra Times 29 November 1972 page 11
  73. ↑ Advertisement Canberra Times 10 August 1991 page 5
  74. ↑ Belconnen Town Centre Developments ACTION Bus Timetable & Route Changes (Advertisement) Archived 1 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Canberra City News 14 May 2009
  75. ↑ 3 stops to replace Belconnen interchange Archived 6 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 25 May 2009
  76. ↑ Change at the interchange - the new Belconnen bus facilities Archived 6 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine ABC Radio Canberra 11 November 2010
  77. ↑ "Improvements to Belconnen Town Centre". ACT Planning and Land Authority. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2008.
  78. ↑ "[No heading]". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 14 May 1975. p. 9. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  79. ↑ "AdShel wins ACT tender". B & T. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  80. ↑ "Case Study - Canberra ACT bus shelters". CAM Shelters. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.

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