Palmerston North and Ashhurst

Fast, direct, frequent and simple

Palmerston North and Ashhurst had some big changes to the way bus services operate from March 2024. Routes changed to be more direct, operating through the city rather than meandering around the suburbs. The frequency dramatically increased, while the fleet became the first fully electric fleet in Australasia.

Horizons Regional Council decided in March 2023 to award the Palmerston North and Ashhurst bus contract for the next nine years to Tranzit Coachlines. Horizons, Palmerston North City Council and Tranzit are working together to deliver the improved service with enhanced infrastructure to support it.

The improvements coincide with Connect, Horizons' public transport brand, being rolled out across the network. Follow Connect on Facebook and Instagram to get the most up-to-date information, including handy tips to make using the network as easy as possible.

Update to 101 Airport-Massey service coming 19 May 2025

Following the changes we made to the network in March 2025, we received feedback from passengers about connecting from other routes to Massey in the mornings. From this feedback, to make it easier to transfer between other services to head to Massey, we've added an extra departure time in the mornings.

The 101 will now:
  • Depart the airport at 6:35am
  • Depart the hospital at 6:45am
  • Depart 737 Main St at 6:49am
  • Depart MSBH (Main St Bus Hub) at 6:53am
  • Depart opposite PNGHS at 6:59am
  • Arrive at Massey at 7:09am

This means we've also got an updated timetable - you can download the newest version of the full timetable at the button below. For individual route timetables, click here.

New Palmerston North timetable - from 19 May 2025

Palmerston North interactive network map

View an interactive map of the Palmerston North and Ashhurst Urban bus network below.
 

 

New timetables and Transit app

Timetables are available online. Printed copies are also available at our service centres, on board the bus, at the isite in Te Marae o Hine - The Square, and from Palmerston North City Council's customer service centre. To see timetables and stop maps online, scroll to the bottom of our download a timetable page. These timetables and stop maps are subject to change. If you would like any of these printed, please pop in to one of our service centres.

The Transit app is the best way to navigate public transport in the Horizons Region. You can use it to plan your trips, get real-time alerts on when your bus is approaching your stop, and give information about your trip. Download the Transit app for free here.


Customer satisfaction survey

Have you caught a bus in Palmerston North or Ashhurst recently and would like to provide some feedback? Please fill out our customer satisfaction survey and let us know your thoughts about your bus trip https://forms.office.com/r/as7QBe01iU

Roslyn-Awapuni trial - 108

We ran a six-month trial route, connecting Roslyn and Awapuni residents to the central city, which has since been extended to operate until mid-2025.

Each service runs four times each day in each direction on weekdays at off-peak times between 9am and 3pm. 

Main St Bus Hub

Things are different for people arriving in the centre of Palmerston North at the Main St Bus Hub now the new network is live. Since the circular routes were replaced by straight lines, buses along the same line now stop at different platforms depending on the direction they're heading in.

The easiest way to figure out where to catch the bus is to remember the following: arrive at one platform, leave from the other. If your bus from home into the hub stops at Platform 3 (the side nearest the courthouse), you'll leave to get home from Platform 2 (the side nearest Downtown). 

Travelling to Ashhurst, Feilding, Marton, Taihape, Whanganui or Levin? You always catch the bus from Platform 1 - the small shelters on the footpath beside the courthouse (temporary location due to new Tryp Hotel development).

The table below gives a full breakdown of what direction buses will head when you catch them from the Main St Bus Hub.
 

Platform 1 Platform 2 Platform 3
114 Ashhurst Connector 101 to Airport 101 to Massey
225 Whanganui - Palmerston North Commuter 102 to Roberts Line 102 to Maxwells Line
311 Palmerston North to Feilding 103 to Hokowhitu 103 to Cloverlea
401/402 Palmerston North to Levin 104 to Parnell Heights 104 to Clarke Ave
501 Palmerston North to Marton 105 to Milson 105 to Summerhill
Palmerston North to Taihape 106 to James Line 106 to Pioneer Highway
  107 to Westbrook 107 to Terrace End
  108 to Clyde Cres 108 to Rugby St

Infrastructure improvements

Horizons and Palmerston North City Council successfully secured $6.9 million from the Transport Choices Package to upgrade Palmerston North’s and Ashhurst’s bus stop infrastructure to support the rollout of the new network. The two councils are working together to deliver these improvements in the coming months.

While Horizons runs the network, Palmerston North City Council owns the bus stops and shelters. That means Palmerston North City Council installs and maintains shelters. You can keep up to date with information about the new shelters, including designs and locations, on the Palmerston North City Council website

Palmerston North City Council asked for public feedback on proposed locations for new bus stops and shelters. This public consultation closed at 4pm on Sunday 17 September 2023. The city council talked directly with landowners, tenants and direct neighbours of stops where shelters would be installed. 

Need to get in touch?

If you have any questions about the shelters, please email busshelters@pncc.govt.nz.

If you have questions about buses or routes, please visit this section of the Horizons website or email transport@horizons.govt.nz.

For more information about the Waka Kotahi Transport Choices programme, which is funding upgrades to shelters and stops, head to Transport Choices programme.