ACTION
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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
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]
Rapid routes
Nine routes, designated as Rapid routes (R2–R10), provide relatively direct and frequent services. Routes R2, R3 and R4 together provide a frequent service between City and Belconnen and routes R4 and R5 together provide a frequent service between City and Woden.
R2
Route R2 links Fraser, Kippax, Belconnen, City, Parkes, Barton and Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick (at the Canberra Outlet Centre). The section from Fraser to Belconnen Interchange is temporarily being operated as Route 12 and frequency on R2 has been reduced from 12 to 15 minutes on weekdays due to work on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.[16]
It operates at 15-minute frequencies on weekdays and 30-minute frequencies on weekends and public holidays.[17]
R3
Route R3 links Spence, Belconnen, City, Russell Offices and Canberra Airport. The section from Spence to Belconnen Interchange is temporarily being operated as Route 13 due to work on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.[16]
It operates at a 15-minute frequency on weekdays and it operates at a 30-minute frequency on weekends and public holidays.[18]
R4
Route R4 services provide a link between Belconnen, City, Woden and Tuggeranong. Frequency has been reduced from 12 to 15 minutes on weekdays due to work on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.[16]
It operates 15-minute frequencies on weekdays, weekends and public holidays.[19]
R5
Route R5 is link between the City, Woden, Erindale Centre, Calwell Centre and Lanyon Marketplace. Frequency has been reduced from 12 to 15 minutes on weekdays and it has been extended to Belconnen due to work on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.[16]
It operates at 15-minute frequencies on weekdays and 30-minute frequencies on weekends and public holidays.[20]
R6
Route R6 is a link between the City, Parkes, Barton, Kingston, Manuka, Narrabundah, the Canberra Hospital and Woden. Frequency has been reduced from 12 to 15 minutes on weekdays and it has been extended to Belconnen due to work on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.[16]
It operates at 15-minute frequencies on weekdays and 30-minute frequencies on weekends and public holidays.[21]
R7
Route R7 provides a direct link between the City, Cooleman Court and Chapman. Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
It operates 15-minute frequencies on weekdays and 30-minute frequencies on weekends and public holidays.[22]
R8
Route R8 is a direct route between the Gungahlin Town Centre and the bus stations at Belconnen.
It operates at 15-minute frequencies on weekdays and 30-minute frequencies on weekends and public holidays.[23]
R9
Route R9 is an east-west link between Belconnen, Canberra Stadium, Dickson and Watson.
It operates at a 15-minute frequencies on weekdays and 30-minute frequencies on weekends and public holidays.[24]
R10
Route R10 is a direct link between Denman Prospect and the City.
It operates 15-minute frequencies on weekdays and 30-minute frequencies on weekends and public holidays.[25]
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.[26]
School services
School services are provided by ACTION to schools and colleges throughout the ACT. These are numbered in the 1000 and 2000 series.[27]
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.[28] 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.[29]
Pre-paid fares
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The pre-paid ticketing system operated by the ACT Government is known as MyWay.[30] 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[31] and Axio card readers.[32] The system was built and installed by Parkeon's Australian distributor, Downer EDi.[33] Instead of being developed from scratch, MyWay was adapted from Transperth's SmartRider system which also uses Parkeon hardware and software.[34][35]
Fleet
As at May 2026, ACTION's route service fleet consisted of 459 buses.[36]
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.[43]
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.[44][45]
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[46] 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.[47]
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.[48][49][50][51] 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.[52] A number of Bedfords and Fords were purchased from dealer's stock.[53]
In 1997, 25 Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Darts were imported from Northern Ireland.[54][55]
In 2001, 17 former North & Western Bus Lines Hino RG197Ks were leased from Sydney Buses for a short period.[56][57] 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.[58][59] 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.[60][61]
Infrastructure
Depots
ACTION operates three depots:
- Woden Bus Depot, Prospect Court, Phillip opened 16 April 1974,[1] closing in February 1997[62] before reopening in 2009.[63] 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.[64][65]
- Belconnen Bus Depot, Cohen Street, Belconnen opened 3 September 1979,[1][66] 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,[67] includes a bus wash, workshop, undercover bus parking, CNG and diesel fuelling facilities, drivers amenities and administrative area.
Bus stations
ACTION operates seven bus stations, which act as hubs for the districts of Canberra.[68]
- City Interchange (opened 23 November 1982[69] and remodelled 2000) serves Canberra Central, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R10 services. It provides interchange with light rail (R1)
- Woden Interchange (opened 4 December 1972,[70] second stage opened 1982[1]) serves Woden Valley, Weston Creek, Tuggeranong, R4, R5 and R6 services
- Tuggeranong Interchange (opened 12 August 1991[71]) serves Tuggeranong and R4 services
- Located in Belconnen Town Centre are three bus stations - Cohen Street (opened 2009) and Belconnen Community Station (opened November 2010) and Westfield Belconnen Station - which serve Belconnen, R2, R3, R4, R8 and R9 services
- Gungahlin Town Centre - located on Gungahlin Place - serves Gungahlin and R8 services. It provides interchange with light rail (R1)
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)[72][73] and Belconnen Community Bus Station (located between Benjamin Way and Emu Bank, at the site of the former Belconnen Interchange, opened in November 2010).[74] 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.[75]
Bus shelters
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Bus shelters installed at stops include what is referred to as a "concrete bunker" which were first installed in May 1975.[76] More modern shelters include glass-sided Adshel shelters (both with and without advertising) which were first installed in 2007[77] and CAM (Community Asset Management NZ Limited) shelters which were first installed in 2012.[78]
References
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- ↑ a b c d e Canberra's Engineering Heritage Engineering Heritage Australia
- ↑ Bus Script error: No such module "webarchive". Canberra Times 15 February 1977 page 3
- ↑ Articulated bus in service Truck & Bus Transportation January 1977 page 106
- ↑ The evolution of articulated buses in Canberra Script error: No such module "webarchive". ACT Bus
- ↑ Canberra Explorer provides a new look at national capital Truck & Bus Transportation May 1982 page 93
- ↑ ACTION to be a Statutory Authority Fleetline issue 274 September 2001 page 143
- ↑ More services, fewer stops: check out Canberra's new bus network Script error: No such module "webarchive". Canberra Times 18 June 2018
- ↑ What will Canberra's new bus network mean for students? Script error: No such module "webarchive". Canberra Times
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Canberra's bus network pushed back after light rail delays Script error: No such module "webarchive". Canberra Times 29 November 2018
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ ACTION and Capital Metro Agency to be rolled into one from 2016 Script error: No such module "webarchive". Canberra Times 27 October 2015
- ↑ Transport Canberra Service Script error: No such module "webarchive". Australasian Bus & Coach 5 July 2016
- ↑ Timetables Script error: No such module "webarchive". Transport Canberra
- ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Route R3 Script error: No such module "webarchive". Transport Canberra
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Route R7 Script error: No such module "webarchive". Transport Canberra
- ↑ Route R8 Script error: No such module "webarchive". Transport Canberra
- ↑ Route R9 Script error: No such module "webarchive". Transport Canberra
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ School Routes By Number Script error: No such module "webarchive". Transport Canberra
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ WA ticket validating machine system for Canberra buses Script error: No such module "webarchive". Government of Western Australia 31 May 1993
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Renault PR100.2 Mk II ACTION
- ↑ MAN A69 18.320 HOUCL-R-NL Diesel Low Floor ACTION
- ↑ Scania K320UB 14.5m 6x2*4 CB60 Low Floor Diesel ACTION
- ↑ Scania K360UA 6x2/2 CB80 Low Floor EEV Diesel ACTION
- ↑ Bike Racks to be fitted to articulated buses Transport Canberra
- ↑ 40 new diesel-powered buses to join Transport Canberra's fleet Script error: No such module "webarchive". Canberra Times 18 November 2019
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ New ACTION buses to be blue, light rail trams to be red Script error: No such module "webarchive". Canberra Times 14 December 2016
- ↑ New Transport Canberra Livery Script error: No such module "webarchive". Australasian Bus & Coach 20 December 2016
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Canberra Transit Australia June 1987 page 119
- ↑ Sydney Buses lend to DCT Electric Traction March 1964 pages 15/16
- ↑ Sydney 31 seaters move south Trolley Wire issue 153 August 1974 page 14
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Leyland OPS2/1 Script error: No such module "webarchive". Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ New bus services affected by hold-ups in deliveries Truck & Bus Transportation March 1974 page 123
- ↑ Irish builder to supply buses to Canberra Truck & Bus Transportation January 1997 page 65
- ↑ Low-Floor Buses Fleetline issue 249 July 1997 page 132
- ↑ State Transit Hinos Fleetline issue 274 September 2001 page 144
- ↑ North & Western Bus Lines Script error: No such module "webarchive". Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ↑ Yellow Buses for Canberra Electric Traction August 1973 page 16
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Australian Capital Territory - ACTION Australian Bus Panorama issue 5/2 September 1989 page 33
- ↑ BUS rego numbers Truck & Bus Transportation November 1989 page 146
- ↑ "Australian Capital Territory - ACTION" Australian Bus Panorama issue 12/6 June 1997 page 22
- ↑ Recommendation 22 Report on Inquiry into ACTION Buses and the Sustainable Transport Plan Script error: No such module "webarchive". ACT Government October 2009
- ↑ Preliminary Design Consultancy for the new Woden Bus Depot ACT Government December 2017
- ↑ Old Woden bus depot to be demolished to make way for storehouse for 120 buses Script error: No such module "webarchive". Canberra Times 14 January 2018
- ↑ Another Big Change Fleetline issue 51 October 1979 page 16
- ↑ New Depot Opens Fleetline October 1989 page 154
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ No timetable changes, adequate transfer time Canberra Times 22 November 1982 page 15
- ↑ Improved bus service at Woden Canberra Times 29 November 1972 page 11
- ↑ Advertisement Canberra Times 10 August 1991 page 5
- ↑ Belconnen Town Centre Developments ACTION Bus Timetable & Route Changes (Advertisement) Script error: No such module "webarchive". Canberra City News 14 May 2009
- ↑ 3 stops to replace Belconnen interchange Script error: No such module "webarchive". ABC News 25 May 2009
- ↑ Change at the interchange - the new Belconnen bus facilities Script error: No such module "webarchive". ABC Radio Canberra 11 November 2010
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links
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