Passengers will be able to pay with their debit or credit cards on Metro buses and ferries from November this year.
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Bus and ferry services in Greater Christchurch and Timaru
Last updated: 17 November 2025
Reporting frequency: Quarterly
Core service: Public Transport
Our Metro bus and ferry services aim to deliver effective public transport and access to social, cultural, education, and economic opportunities.
Metro bus and ferry services offer accessible, affordable, and sustainable alternative options to private vehicle travel.
Service measure targets will be assessed and updated on an annual basis in response to government funding certainty, and real-time phasing of proposed service improvements.
How are we tracking on our service measures?
Service measure 28: Percentage of customers satisfied with Metro public transport services
Target: 95% or more
How we are doing: The survey will be undertaken in quarter four. This target has been consistently achieved in previous years
On track
Service measure 29: Number of trips per capita per year in Greater Christchurch and Timaru
Target: 25 or more
How we are doing: 27
28 in Greater Christchurch and 8 in South Canterbury
On track
Service measure 30: Percentage of fleet that meet quality criteria Target: 80% or more
Target: 80% or more
How we are doing: 89%
We audit our fleet a minimum of three times each year against quality standards
On track
Service measure 31: Number of safety related incidents (passengers and drivers) per 100,000 passenger trips
Target: 3 or fewer
How we are doing: 1.7
269 incidents, 15.13 million trips
On track
Service measure 32: Percentage of bus and ferry services that start on time
Target: Bus services and ferry services: 95% or more
How we are doing: 95%
Bus services punctuality remained consistent with previous years, and ferry services punctuality improved to 94% in quarter one?
On track
Service measure 33: Proportion of kilometres travelled by zero emission vehicles
Target: 19% or more
How we are doing: Bus services 32%
The improvement (up from 29% last year) is a result of the reallocation of the zero-emission fleet across the network in 2024/25
On track
More information
These measures help us understand our customer experience, including safety and the reliability of our services, and where investment may be needed to align service delivery with community expectation.
We are aiming to have a net-carbon zero fleet by 2035, and service measure 33 helps track our progress. A net-carbon zero fleet refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the atmosphere.
As we increase the number of electric buses in our fleet, diesel buses will be phased out and therefore, fewer carbon emissions from public transport will be released into the atmosphere.
Recent highlights and updates
News
Two new Rolleston to Christchurch bus routes will add 32 weekday trips, and have their own fares, payment, and hail-and-ride stops.
News
Many decisions were made at the 600th Canterbury Regional Council meeting, including allowing pets on buses.
News
Two Canterbury bus routes, in Timaru and Christchurch, are being boosted to cater to higher demand.
News
Read the latest update from Chair Craig Pauling on the 2025/26 Annual Plan adoption.
News
From Monday 7 July 2025, bus and ferry fares will increase for Metro services across Christchurch, Selwyn, and Waimakariri.