Media Release: John Hargreaves MLA, 19 July 2006

Minister for the Territory and Municipal Services, John Hargreaves, today congratulated the Canberra Community on reaching the milestone of 80 years of Public Transport.

Mr Hargreaves said that ACTION would be celebrating this important milestone in Canberra’s public transport history with a birthday celebration on Wednesday 19 July 2006 and the opening of the 80 years of ACTION exhibition at the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG).

“The display highlights 80 years of public transport in Canberra and will include memorabilia such as the different uniforms throughout the ages, ticket machines, timetables, posters, and photos.

“At the opening will be ACTION’s oldest bus Matilda (a 1949 AEC Regal Bus) along with ACTION’s newest bus in the fleet (CNG low floor easy access air-conditioned bus), highlighting how far Canberra has come in public transport.

“On 19 July 1926, the then Federal Capital Commission commenced operating Canberra’s first government funded bus service under the name City Bus Service,’ said Mr Hargreaves.

“The service started with four buses that operated four bus routes from a southern terminus at Eastlake (now Kingston) to a northern terminus at Ainslie.

“ACTION now operates 56 major bus routes with over 380 buses.”

“To start the day and get Canberra’s adult bus commuters into the spirit of the occasion, a birthday celebration is planned at Woden, Civic and Belconnen Interchanges between 7.30am and 9.30am. At the interchanges actors and musicians will be wandering around representing 80 years of public transport – you may see a bus conductor, or a paper boy, or even the 1940’s supervisor from Kingston Bus Depot ‘Cocky Roach’ wandering around the interchanges.

“So happy birthday ACTION and congratulations on !” Mr Hargreaves said.

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This page was last updated on 19 July 2006