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).
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!
📢 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).
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!
Also evening services would be great - until 9 pm or so.
Lisa
asked
9 days ago
Thanks Lisa - we will add this into our feedback for the trial.
Ngā mihi,
The Metro Team
Excellent service, it makes such a huge difference for me. Using the old 85 only service was very congested and not very accessible- the extra services resolve so many barriers and make it much more comfortable. The Bentley drivers are so friendly and go above and beyond too. Would love to see services run a little earlier in the day, on weekends too. I also driver if services could operate both ways in mornings and evenings as the buses need to travel back and forth anyway?
Lisa
asked
9 days ago
Kia ora Lisa,
Great to hear this - thank you for your support! Your suggestions towards the trial are appreciated.
Ngā mihi, The Metro Team
Why doenst this direct route run on Saturdays ?
Caitlyn
asked
14 days ago
Kia ora Caitlyn,
Thank you for your question - we will add this to the trial review for consideration.
Ngā mihi,
The Metro Team
Recently moved to Rolleston and have been enjoying using this great service! Please keep up the good work. Super convenient. There seems to be an area of Rolleston (Shadbolt Lane and surrounds) that has missed out on being included in the route. Bentley drivers are super friendly and the buses are clean and tidy. Thank you very much.
Max
asked
12 days ago
Kia ora Max,
Thank you for your feedback. We will add this as contribution towards the review. Ngā mihi,
The Metro Team
The 84 and 85 bus from Rolleston to the City should also stop at the University of Canterbury. The University is a large employer and has many students. It makes no sense to take this bus to the city and then catch another bus out of the city to the University.
Glen
asked
14 days ago
Kia ora Glen,
Thank you for submitting this feedback, we appreciate it! We've noted down your suggestions towards the review.
Ngā mihi, The Metro Team
Has the timetable from the City to Rolleston changed? I normally catch the Bentley 85 Monday and Wednesday at 4.40pm, but for the last week it has been the 84? Likewise, when I’ve waited to catch the Metro 85 at 5.20pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, for the last week or so, it has not arrived until 5:30-5:40pm, and a Bentley 84 has arrived at 5.20pm. This is not what is reflected in the current amended timetable on the metro website. Would be great if this could be clarified :)
T James
asked
about 1 month ago
Kia ora,
Thank you for reaching out. The current amended timetable on the Metro website is still correct.
There is facility/infrastructure construction currently underway in the Central City which is having an impact on the traffic flow along this route; hopefully this context has provided some clarification to any delays experienced.
Please get back in touch if you have any further questions.
Ngā mihi,
The Metro Team
The service is becoming unreliable in terms of timings with several afternoon services running significantly late. Today (16 Nov) no bus arrived between 3.45pm and 4.15pm - that’s 3 scheduled services missed. Not the first time, but probably the worst delay I’ve had so far
Jac
asked
about 1 month ago
Kia ora Jac,
Thank you for getting in touch and for sharing your concerns.
There is facility/infrastructure construction currently underway in the Central City which is having an impact on the traffic flow along this route - we recognise that delays such as these are not ideal.
We've noted down your feedback.
Ngā mihi,
The Metro Team
Got the 85 rolleston direct bus service on 30/10/2025,
4.55pm. Driver was Peter.
Please make sure he knows he has a super kind manner to his customer service efforts. People with his take are what makes for great customer service experiences. Also nice tp have some more direct buses out from rolly to town. :)
Mikayla
asked
about 1 month ago
Kia ora Mikayla,
So cool to hear this! Thank you for reaching out to let us know about your experience. We will pass this on.
Ngā mihi, The Metro Team
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
about 2 months 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 timetable—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
about 2 months ago
Kia ora,
Thank you for your feedback.
We will add this as contribution towards the review.
Thank you for your contribution!
Help us reach out to more people in the community
Share this with family and friends