Ready, set, go every 10 minutes on Route 7!
Environment Canterbury media release: 28th April 2025
Metro’s Route 7 Halswell to Queenspark customers will be able to turn up to their stop and go, from Monday 28th April 2025, with the frequency of the service being increased.
The service will run every 10 minutes from 5.30am to 6.30pm on weekdays and every 15 minutes outside of those hours, and on weekends.
The shift in frequency is thanks to funding from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and through our 2024-34 Long-Term Plan.
"Customers have been asking us to increase the frequency of buses on this route, so we’re pleased that we’re now able to do this thanks to funding from the NZTA. We know how busy Route 7 gets, particularly in the mornings, so these extra services will help distribute some of the demand," Chair Craig Pauling said.
View the new Route 7 timetable.
Route 7 carries around 4,000 customers per day, which equates to around 1 million customers per year. Five additional electric buses will be added to the route to service the frequency increase - reducing wait times for customers.
"This change means that customers can arrive at their stop at any time and know that the next bus isn’t too far away," Chair Pauling said.
Councillor Joe Davies said he was pleased that we are able to improve services for residents who have been asking for this in the eastern suburbs.
"This frequency increase will improve public transport access for people in the east of Christchurch."
Route change part of wider improvements
The change to Route 7 is part of a larger collaborative project to improve public transport that includes additional infrastructure delivered by our partners Christchurch City Council and NZTA. This includes:
Customers travelling back and forth from Halswell may experience some delays travelling down Halswell Road as a result of these upgrades.
"We want to thank customers for their patience as our partners work to deliver these upgrades. We’re excited to have these additional elements on offer once the project is complete in October 2026," Public Transport acting general manager Sonia Pollard said.
"We recognise the frequency change is part of what customers have been asking for on this route – we will continue to bid for funding so other changes can also become a reality," she added.
NZTA is currently funding 51 percent of the net cost of the frequency increase on a trial basis until June 2027. The rest is funded through rates and fares.
"We expect running a better service will be popular and well used, and that this will strengthen our case for further and more permanent investment," Sonia said.