Southbridge bus trial extended but more passengers needed

The Team Reporter from The Press

A trial bus service between Lincoln, Leeston and Southbridge will be extended another year - but if residents want to keep Route 87 beyond that, they will need to make more use of it, Environment Canterbury says.

The trial will now continue through to July 2023. The extension will help determine whether Covid-19 has affected passenger numbers over the past year, the regional council says.

First launched in 2019, the trial has already been altered and extended several times in an effort to provide the community with a service that will attract enough patronage to make it permanent, Metro spokesperson Thomas McNaughton says.

"This 12-month extension is a great opportunity for the community to give this fantastic service a go and ensure we can continue to provide a sustainable connection to the city."

The trial service is comprised of three trips a day aimed at commuters and students starting at 6.43am from Southbridge to Lincoln, with return services at 4.11pm and 6.08pm from Lincoln to Southbridge.