ACT Election 2020: Liberals pledge to create new cross-city bus services

Transport spokeswoman Candice Burch said the election commitment would allow Canberrans to travel directly from town centre to town centre.

"We will introduce seven express commuter services that will run like old Xpresso services to get people to and from work," she said.

"We are also introducing new, direct, town-centre-to-town-centre services that will halve travel time."

Controversial changes to Labor's bus network made after the introduction of light rail cut local bus services in favour of a "hub and spoke" model.

Under the plan, the Liberals would buy 19 new buses to deliver the new services, with 19 drivers to be recruited by February next year.

There would be dedicated commuter car parks for direct services to relieve pressure on parking hotspots, while all cancelled school buses would be reinstated.

"Our comprehensive transport plan will reduce cost of living pressures, save commuters time, and give parents greater peace of mind about the safety of their children on the bus network," Opposition Leader Alistair Coe said.

Miss Burch said the Canberra Liberals would trial after-dark drop-offs - allowing passengers travelling alone after dark to request that the driver set them down between stops along the route where safe to do so.

"This will encourage more women and vulnerable people to use public transport after dark by allowing them to get off a bus closer to home," she said.

The Liberals say the bus package would cost $59 million over four years.

Transport Minister Chris Steel said the plan was a "policy failure".

He said the commitment would require far more than the 19 new buses the party suggested

"At least 100 new buses would be required to deliver school services and Xpresso routes, unless their plan is to cut services elsewhere," Mr Steel said.

"More than 19 drivers are required if you want the 19 buses to be operational (it takes 1.6 FTE drivers for each additional bus you want to operate in the fleet).

"Dedicated school buses and existing 'peak services' run in the peak - when all the buses are in service across the network.

"The Liberals need to explain which route bus services and Rapid services they would cut."

Mr Steel said bus drivers already did drop-off after dark between stops on a discretionary basis.

Miss Burch said no existing services would be cut to create the new services.