Christchurch suburban bus routes to be savaged by Ecan changes

Environment Canterbury which runs the Christchurch suburban bus services, has announced significant cuts to service operations in light of the changes in usage since the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011. 

Whilst there have been some earthquake related issues this has more of a feeling of being an opportunistic change that is designed to implement overall cuts to bus services, rather than being out of necessity following the earthquakes.

The changes being currently consulted on until 3th August will basically have the following effects:

Old Route	Typical Old Frequency	New Route(s)	New Frequencies	Notes
8 Hoon Hay – Casebrook	30 min daytime	1 plus 108	30 min peak / 60 min other	Route 1 higher frequency
9 Wairakei	30 min daytime	1 plus 109	30 min peak / 60 min other	Route 1 higher frequency
11 Westmorland-Styx Mill	30 min daytime	111 plus 1 plus 108	30 min peak / 60 min other	Route 1 higher frequency
12 Northwood-Cashmere	30 min daytime	17	30 min peak / 60 min other	May not need any transfer
14 Dyers Pass-Harewood	30 min daytime	?		No new service to Dyers Pass
15 Bishopdale-Murray Aynsley	30 min daytime	115 plus 1 plus 131	60 min all times	Route 1 higher frequency
18 Huntsbury-St Albans	30 min daytime MF/60 min SS	17 plus 132	30 min peak / 60 min other
20 Burnside-Barrington	30 min daytime MSa/60 min Su	120	30 min peak / 60 min other	May not need any transfer
22 Spreydon-Redwood	30 min MF/60 min SS	122 plus 1 plus 120	30 min peak / 60 min other
46 Marshland-City	30 min MF/60 min SS	133 plus 1	60 min	Route 1 higher frequency
90 Rangiora	30 min MSa/60 min Su	1	Similar	Now runs to PMH instead of city

The real reasons for the loss of patronage up to this point have been due to a combination of the following:

• Bad roads causing slower operation, route changes and partial closures
• Loss of the bus exchange and the resulting temporary operations out of TWO city interchanges with very poor facilities and congestion
• Central Station is a much poorer facility more reminiscent of Cathedral Square compared to the fully undercover Bus Exchange.