Bentley Coachlines Cuts Bus Trips on Rolleston Route

Beginning on Monday, Bentley Coachlines will reduce its bus services from Rolleston to Christchurch, resulting in six fewer morning trips and five fewer afternoon trips. The changes come as part of an effort to streamline operations after the route’s performance revealed inconsistent demand.

Bentley Coachlines, which started operating this route in September 2023 to increase frequency and supplement Metro buses, has observed varying ridership levels. According to a company spokesperson, “The travel patterns are quite clear and, while many trips are performing well, a few are only carrying a handful of patrons and are showing no signs of growth.” This assessment has led to the decision to remove less popular trips to focus on those with greater utilization.

Adjusted Timetable Details

The timetable changes will affect how frequently buses run between Rolleston and Christchurch. The first No 84 bus will now depart from Rolleston Drive at 6:17 AM, a change from the previous 5:37 AM departure. The last morning bus will leave an hour earlier than before, now departing at 7:17 AM instead of 8:17 AM.

For the No 85 route, the first bus will maintain its 5:34 AM departure from Rolleston Avenue. However, the last morning bus will leave at 7:44 AM, reduced from 8:24 AM.

In the afternoon, changes will also be evident. The first No 84 bus from Christchurch will now leave Madras Street at 3:44 PM, adjusted from 3:19 PM, while the last bus will depart at 5:04 PM, one hour earlier than its previous 5:44 PM schedule. The No 85 bus will continue to leave Madras Street at 3:14 PM, but the last bus will now depart at 5:14 PM, a shift from 5:34 PM.

Impact on Local Transportation

Despite these adjustments, the number of trips operated by Metro buses will remain unchanged. Bentley Coachlines, a private operator, does not receive any funding from Environment Canterbury, which manages the Metro services. As a result of the reduction in Bentley Coachlines services, the frequency of buses may be affected, as previous schedules allowed for departures as close as ten minutes apart.

Moving forward, Bentley Coachlines aims to concentrate its efforts on enhancing the performance of its remaining services while ensuring that those routes with higher demand are adequately covered. As public transportation dynamics continue to evolve, these changes highlight the ongoing need for operators to respond to actual ridership patterns.