You can turn up and go on Metro’s Route 7 from late April
Metro’s Route 7 Halswell-Queenspark service is set to become even more convenient, thanks to an increase in frequency.
The Route 7 Halswell-Queenspark service will run every 10 minutes from 5.30am to 6.30pm on weekdays and every 15 minutes outside of those hours, starting from Monday 28 April.
This frequency improvement was approved through our Long-Term Plan and has been enabled with funding through NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) - 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.
Increased service to meet community demand
Public transport general manager Stewart Gibbon said the improvement to the core route will be a great benefit to regular users.
“We’ve listened to the community and their calls for more buses on this route, especially at peak times, so we’re looking forward to delivering that for our customers. An additional five buses have been procured to enable the increased frequency on this popular route,” Stewart said.
“The improvement is beginning as a two-year trial. We aim to secure permanent funding for the service, and we will continue working with the central government on this. We will also be connecting with communities along the route to ensure that we all make the most of this opportunity,” he said.
The frequency change is being undertaken in tandem with other improvements delivered by partners Christchurch City Council and NZTA which include:
- 10 bus stop upgrades
- a new bus parking space
- bus lanes on State Highway 75 Halswell Road.
“The increased frequency will help while improvements along State Highway 75 Halswell Road are underway and will also be of great benefit to customers once the work is completed,” Stewart said.
Feedback from our partners
“The new bus lanes we’re building, together with the increased bus frequency will make bus travel much more appealing for the many residents living in the city’s increasingly popular southwest suburbs,” said Ian Duncan, Acting-Director Regional Relationships Canterbury for NZTA.
“We’re pleased to collaborate with our partners, Environment Canterbury and NZTA, to enhance our public transport network and offer an improved travel experience for our bus users,” Christchurch City Council transport operations manager Stephen Wright said.
The improvement to Route 7 is a key strategic component of the Public Transport Futures programme, which aims to transform public transport in Greater Christchurch.
Route coverage and key destinations
Route 7 is already one of Metro’s most popular services, connecting the Southwest of the city to the Northeast via the central city.
The route covers several communities including Halswell, Addington, Edgeware, Shirley, Avondale, Parklands and Queenspark. It’s a convenient way to get to Ngā Puna Wai, Hillmorton and Christchurch Hospitals, the Palms and upcoming developments such as the Parakiore Recreation and Sports Centre in the city.