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!
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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!
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 safe—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 Pak’nSave, then Brantwaite, Falcon’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 Westfield—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
1 day 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
I’ve really enjoyed having the additional service, it’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 don’t have to walk so far if you do catch one.
Vah
asked
about 16 hours ago
Kia ora Vah,
Thanks for the great feedback! We've noted down your suggestions towards the review.
Ngā mihi,
The Metro Team
I've been catching the early service bus into work and been great friendly driver's greet you in the morning and after work thank you
Maxi
asked
1 day ago
Kia ora Maxi,
Awesome to hear this! Thank you for reaching out to let us know how you've been finding the service.
Ngā mihi,
The Metro Team
Congratulations and thank you for this awesome improvement. It is a pleasure to always see a smiling Bentley driver who really enjoys what they do.
The 85 route is perfect with the hail option, especially when living far from the nearest traditional stop. And to have a seat to sit on is a definite improvement from the old metro schedule
B-Man
asked
about 24 hours ago
Kia ora,
Thank you for your support! Fantastic to hear that you have been enjoying the service. Your feedback towards the trial is appreciated.
Ngā mihi, The Metro Team
While it is great to see the Bus services improved from Rolleston to the City and return; would it be possible to have one or two buses a day to be diverted through Prebbleton so Prebbleton Residents can travel to the numerous facilities (Swimming Pool, Library, Sports Centre, Community events) which Rolleston enjoy and we pay rates for?
GraemeG
asked
2 days ago
Kia ora Graeme,
We have noted down your feedback - thanks for getting in touch!
Ngā mihi,
The Metro Team
I catch the 84 bus 5 days a week and am very impressed with the service. The busses are always on time and the drivers are very friendly. The convenience of not needing to drive my car to a park and ride is a time saver both at the beginning and the end of the day. This expanded service makes catching the bus into the city so much easier and takes the pressure off making sure that I catch a specific bus if I am running late for some reason.
I encourage everyone who commutes to the city during peak times to try it out.
Cherice
asked
2 days ago
Kia ora Cherice,
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us. It's fantastic to hear about the positive impacts this is having for you.
Ngā mihi,
The Metro Team
I have not used any bus services to/from Rolleston but as a Darfield local with grandchildren going to school in Chch I know many families who would appreciate a bus service for them. The so-called workers' bus leaves Darfield at 7am and gets children to their schools up to an hour before school starts and it does not leave Yaldhurst until 5pm so doesn't get them back here until nearly 6pm which is a very long day with unsupervised gaps at each end of the school day.
Jane Duncan
asked
2 days ago
Kia ora Jane,
We have noted down your feedback - thank you for getting in touch!
Ngā mihi, The Metro Team
I love this new system. Lots of positives but a few negatives as well. The hail and ride is great but I think a new stop on Goulds Road just in front of Oak tree Lane would be great. This would help with the large amount of houses off Goulds road. I agree with many other comments regarding the Bentleys not being able to use the Metro card and this is a definate flaw. While I dont mind using my eftpos card, it is an extra 50c in and out and also the machines take ages to process one person so there is always a delay if there are lots of people wanting to get on. The other thing is that it can be freezing cold and wet waiting for the bus at the exchange. Surely Metro can let the Bentley buses depart from within the exchange and drop off at the exchange. This would save heaps of time as well. Overall I am keen to see this service stay with a few tweaks. Staff on the metro are super friendly as well which I appreciate.
SC
asked
3 days ago
Kia ora,
Thanks for reaching out with these points; we've noted them as feedback towards the trial.
Great to hear about your experience with our team!
Ngā mihi, The Metro Team
Hi there. Can we please have express services on the weekends as well? Also a Riccarton mall stop would be beneficial. I've boarded buses from the bus interchange with barely any people. Seems like a waste of space & fuel to carry an almost empty bus to Rolleston that too an express one. Could pick up people from a few hotspots in town like Riccarton Mall
AJ
asked
3 days ago
Kia ora AJ,
Thank you for contacting us with these suggestions - we've noted these down as part of the review of the trial. Your feedback is appreciated.
Ngā mihi, The Metro Team
Selwyn has grown exponentially and it feels like the bus service can't keep up. Idea: make the 85 an all-day service and all stops, but also expand the 5. Similar to what the 1 does in Wellington where it reaches Johnsonville and branches off in one of three directions, maybe the 5 could do the same? Gets to Kidman St and a 5A does north of Rolleston, 5B does current route, and 5C does south end??
Laura
asked
3 days ago
Kia ora Laura,
Thank you for sharing these suggestions - we've captured them for feedback so that we can review as part of the trial.
Thank you for your contribution!
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