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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National

ACT bus timetable to change during lockdown due to quarantined drivers

ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel and Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith use the Check In CBR app to sign in on a bus. The app is now mandatory on public transport. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

Canberra buses will run less frequently from Wednesday due to the territory's COVID-19 lockdown sending scores of drivers into quarantine.

From Wednesday, the weekday bus timetable will operate the same as the summer holiday timetable.

Weekend services will remain the same, and light rail will continue to run to its regular frequency.

Throughout the interim timetable, the Rapid 10 will run at least every 30 minutes and all other rapid services will run every 15 minutes until 8pm weekdays.

"At the moment we are seeing major impacts to the reliability of bus services because of the growing number of drivers required to comply with ACT health directions," Transport Minister Chris Steel said.

On Friday morning there were more than 80 drivers in quarantine after several were caught in exposure sites at school campuses.

"As a result of so many drivers in quarantine, we are enacting our business continuity plan by transitioning to a summer holiday timetable, effective Wednesday. This will ensure that public transport services remain frequent and reliable for those that need them," Mr Steel said.

He said people should only use public transport for essential reasons.

"If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please do not travel on public transport," he said.

During the lockdown, public transport patronage has been reduced to approximately 10 per cent of 2019 levels.

The interim timetable will remain in place until further notice.

Schools bus services will not run during that time, with daily trips reduced to about 40 in lockdown compared to thousands prior.

Essential workers whose children use a dedicated school bus service and are continuing to go to school should contact their school to advise of transport requirements.

Mr Steel said all children of essential workers who need public transport to get to school would be accommodated.

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