Good news for Term 3 | Metro double decker on T2 school route starting Monday 21 July

Metro have been monitoring the number of passengers using school bus services and we know that the bus – especially the T2 service – can be quite full.

Current Metro school buses can legally take up to 60 people - this includes standing and seated passengers.  New Zealand Transport Authority Waka Kotahi (NZTA) determines the loading limit for every passenger service. This means that if the bus is loaded to capacity, no further students will be able to board.

To allow for more passengers on the T2 route,  a double decker will be introduced from Monday, 21 July 2025.

Additional capacity improvements are planned for other Timaru school and Temuka routes under our new contract with Ritchies, though these changes are not expected to take effect until mid-2026.

In the meantime, we recommend families:

·         Discuss backup transport options in case your bus is full.

·         Encourage students to arrive early to secure a spot.

Update: Changes to Weekly Fare Caps for Timaru School Services – Effective 7 July

From 7 July, the way weekly fare capping works in Timaru will be changing. This may affect students who regularly use the Timaru School Bus Services.

What’s changing?
The fare per trip remains the same — there is no fare increase.
However, the number of paid trips before free travel begins each week is increasing from 8 to 10 trips.

What do you need to do?
Please ensure there is enough balance on your child’s Metrocard to cover the additional two trips per week. There is no change to how you pay — Metrocard remains the best option for accessing lower fares and travel benefits.

It would be appreciated if you could reinforce the message on the first week back of Term 3 (14 July). If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at metro@ecan.govt.nz.

Feedback or questions?

metro@ecan.govt.nz

03 366 88 55