Improving public transport for Selwyn

Better bus services for Rolleston to City

We’ve heard from people in Selwyn that Rolleston needs better bus options.

From 1 September, Metro and Bentley Coachlines services will operate direct buses along two new routes, 84 Rolleston Direct West and 85 Rolleston Direct East. These combined services will run as a six-month trial.

A new approach for public transport

Environment Canterbury delivers Metro public transport services in Greater Christchurch in partnership with local councils, bus and ferry operators and New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

Earlier this year, Council adopted the Annual Plan 2025/26 and approved a ratepayer-funded trial to improve Route 85 (Rolleston–Christchurch).

In June, Bentley Coachlines proposed a new commercial commuter service—and it’s a great opportunity to try something new and innovative. We paused work on investigating Metro Route 85 improvements and collaborated on a coordinated timetable between Metro and Bentley services. As a private operator, Bentley Coachlines is not subsidised and does not rely on ratepayer funding.

Share your experience

This is a new hybrid approach to delivering transport options for Rolleston commuters, and we want your feedback!

šŸšŒšŸ’¬ Share your experience using Metro and Bentley services anytime

šŸ“¢ Subscribe for updates and find out when our surveys go live

Together with Bentley, we’ll review feedback regularly and run surveys mid-way through the trial and at the end to help decide what’s next.

Better bus services for Rolleston to City

We’ve heard from people in Selwyn that Rolleston needs better bus options.

From 1 September, Metro and Bentley Coachlines services will operate direct buses along two new routes, 84 Rolleston Direct West and 85 Rolleston Direct East. These combined services will run as a six-month trial.

A new approach for public transport

Environment Canterbury delivers Metro public transport services in Greater Christchurch in partnership with local councils, bus and ferry operators and New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

Earlier this year, Council adopted the Annual Plan 2025/26 and approved a ratepayer-funded trial to improve Route 85 (Rolleston–Christchurch).

In June, Bentley Coachlines proposed a new commercial commuter service—and it’s a great opportunity to try something new and innovative. We paused work on investigating Metro Route 85 improvements and collaborated on a coordinated timetable between Metro and Bentley services. As a private operator, Bentley Coachlines is not subsidised and does not rely on ratepayer funding.

Share your experience

This is a new hybrid approach to delivering transport options for Rolleston commuters, and we want your feedback!

šŸšŒšŸ’¬ Share your experience using Metro and Bentley services anytime

šŸ“¢ Subscribe for updates and find out when our surveys go live

Together with Bentley, we’ll review feedback regularly and run surveys mid-way through the trial and at the end to help decide what’s next.

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  • Please reconsider at the end of the trial bringing back the metro bus that used to depart the last stop on Kidman Street at 7:25am, or even making the bentley bus that departs this location at 7:20am, a metro one. I get a concession which I cannot currently use as the metro one that departs this location at 7:10am is too early and the 7:40am one is too late. Regarding the buses not being allowed inside the bus interchange, this works in summer because of the nice weather, however, I do not think this is going to work in winter having people waiting outside in the freezing cold wind and rain and as its arrival doesn't get announced in the interchange, we cannot wait in there.

    GK asked 4 days ago

    Kia ora,

    Thank you for submitting this feedback, we appreciate it! 
    We've noted down your suggestions towards the review. 

    Ngā mihi,
    The Metro Team

  • It has been good to have the extra buses and has been nice not needing to consult the timetableā€”the next bus won't be far away. I had already highlighted to Sonia the folly of being too frequent and this has played out. I really hope that balance of patronage and buses does settle down and Bentley can make economic sense of the situation. I'd like this to continue

    Midhurst asked 9 days ago

    Kia ora,

    Thank you for your feedback.

    We will add this as contribution towards the review.

    Ngā mihi, 
    The Metro Team

  • Itā€™s disappointing that the later services have been cut - a 6pm bus from ARA back to faringdon would be helpful for those who finish later than mid afternoon.

    Ella C asked 14 days ago

    Kia ora Ella,

    Thank you for sharing on this.

    Your feedback towards the trial is appreciated. 

    Ngā mihi, 

    The Metro Team

  • The extra services fir the Rolleston to City vice versa has been awesome! The easy payment via PayWave has worked a breeze and the extra vacated seats is always good after a long days work. Hope these services by Bentley continues or better yet Metro starts adding these much needed direct services.

    HM asked 14 days ago

    Kia ora, 

    Great to hear - thank you for your support!
    Your feedback towards the trial is appreciated.


    Ngā mihi, 
    The Metro Team

  • I have really appreciated the new 84. It has shortened my commute to Ara down by about 30mins which has been massive. I have found all the drivers to be really friendly and knowledgeable and the busses themselves are tidy and clean. Previously I was using the metro #5 in the afternoons, but they are just so packed, with people standing and squashing in. I have really enjoyed the peaceful Bentley journeys. It is understandable that the timetable has been cut back, even if it is disappointing for the few of us that used those busses. Overall, I really hope that the Bentleys continue to run, and that more people use them, as they are a great addition to the bus system.

    LivB asked 16 days ago

    Kia ora Liv,

    Thank you for sharing your feedback and for your positivity about the 84. It’s great to hear that it has made such a noticeable difference to your commute and that you’ve had good experiences with the drivers and vehicles.

    We appreciate your thoughts about the recent timetable changes too - it’s encouraging to hear how much the service is valued within the community.

    Your feedback is greatly appreciated; we will add it towards the review of the trial.

    Ngā mihi, 

    The Metro Team

  • When will you have the buses going down Dunscrossing Rd

    Retired asked 19 days ago

    Kia ora,

    Thank you for your question.

    We will add this request as a contribution towards the review.

    Ngā mihi, 
    The Metro Team

  • I decided about 6weeks ago to try the more frequent buses so stopped driving to the city, have been alternating between the Broadlands Drive and the Kidman Street (1st/last stop) stops. It is really great for me at the time between 7:45 and 8am, and I have noticed over the past 3-4weeks it is graduallly getting more and more passengers (on the Bentley Bus) as more people become aware of the service. Again, the time in the evening from the cirty bus station, I tend to be at the temp stop there around 5:15-5:25pm, although initially there would only be about 2-3people on the bus, it is getting more passengers. So overall, brillaint that this service has been offered, I personally think that some more regular advertising for the additional service would be a great idea as there is most definately (in my view) a lot of people driving each day that, like me, would prefer a more stress free comute and not have to worry about parking chares in the city, etc. Thanks and hopefully the services will remain.

    Roger asked 19 days ago

    Kia ora Roger,

    Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with the service. It’s great to hear that the options have made your commute easier and that you’re noticing more passengers making use of them.

    We really appreciate your feedback and your suggestion about promotion of the service, we've noted it.

    Thank you again for your support, and we’re glad to hear the changes have made such a difference to your daily travel.

    Ngā mihi, 

    The Metro Team

  • Kia ora I would like to provide positive feedback regarding the new Bentley bus service. I live in Rolleston, on Lowes Road by 'Go Natural' Emoji and was previously driving to the start point in Faringdon for the Express Metro bus at 07:30, for my son who attends Ao Tawhiti not far from yourselves. He has attended the school his entire life, having started in Haswell when it was 'Discovery' when we lived in Christchurch. Finding a service for him to continue his schooling was terrible when they moved back to town. My Mother (who is 81) helped out when he was younger on the X5 from Brookside Park. He is fourteen years old, and thankfully independent on the buses for the last few years. For him, Bentley Buses provide a service that is comfortable. He catches it just off Tinyhill Drive on Brookside Road, requesting the bus to stop. It is less crowded (catching the Metro in was a worry for him as it had so many people, therefore I took him to catch it at Faringdon rather than by the College or on Tennyson Street which is closer). He catches the Bentley bus 07:39, they are always on time & the fact that you can request a stop is amazing. Travel is slightly more expensive but worth it. My son has a long day travelling to school & this service has been amazing. On the metro bus, he insisted on wearing a face mask due to the crowded nature of this service. I hope the Bentley bus service continues. Every day I ask how many people were on it - not many. I feel it is a service that has had poor media/ council/ local advertising input. We need good bus services into Christchurch/ Ōtautahi, and it is frustrating to see this attempt struggling. I believe if more people were aware, they would take advantage of this alternative bus service. A train service would also be great!

    Raven Tui asked 20 days ago

    Kia ora Raven,

    Thank you for sharing your story with us — we really value hearing different perspectives.
    We’ve taken note of your suggestions, and they’ll help inform the review.

    Ngā mihi, 

    The Metro Team

  • In my personal view, the current Route 820 bus has very few passengers. What if the 820 route were extended from Rolleston, passing through Templeton, all the way to Hornby? Meanwhile, the current Route 5 could run directly along State Highway 1 to Hornby. The section from Rolleston to Hornby on Route 5 usually has few passengers, and some parts of the road are narrow, which can occasionally feel a bit unsafe (although our drivers are very skilled and safeā€”thank you!). By doing this, more Rolleston residents could reach their destinations faster. Faster travel times would likely increase bus ridership as well. With the saved time, Route 5 could be split into 5A and 5B: 5A would follow the current route, ending at Farringdon along the path of Route 84. 5B would pass the newly built Pakā€™nSave, then Brantwaite, Falconā€™s Landing, and Acland Park, ending either at Farringdon or Foster Park. This setup would cover all of Rolleston, allowing more residents to conveniently use the bus service. Routes 84 and 85 are also excellent services. In fact, it would be even better if these services operated all day. During morning and evening peak times, there could be a direct service to the city, and at other times, buses could travel via the motorway to Riccarton (not necessarily Westfieldā€”e.g., in front of Riccarton Caltex), stopping only at limited key locations. After Kidman Street, buses would stop only at Addington Racecourse, Tower Junction, Riccarton, Hospital, and Bus Interchange. If buses acted as a true express service, stopping only at key locations rather than every stop, I believe more Rolleston residents would use them instead of driving, avoiding parking and traffic congestion. I would do the same myself.

    Rolle John asked 21 days ago

    Kia ora, 

    We appreciate the depth of your feedback - input like this will really help us with the review. Thanks so much for getting in touch!

    Ngā mihi,
    The Metro Team

  • Iā€™ve really enjoyed having the additional service, itā€™s been nice catching the 85 bus through to Reuben Ave and not having to go to the park n ride and great having plenty of available seats. It would be great if the 5 bus route could align with the 85 route, at least to get back to the park n ride next to Fosters Park so you donā€™t have to walk so far if you do catch one.

    Vah asked 21 days ago

    Kia ora Vah,

    Thanks for the great feedback! We've noted down your suggestions towards the review.

    Ngā mihi, 

    The Metro Team

Page last updated: 15 Oct 2025, 08:38 PM