Home-> Routes & Timetables-> SMS
SMS
What is bustext?
bustext is a service launched by ACTION to get timetable information via SMS to your mobile phone. You can enter your location and destination, and bustext will find the best bus services for the journey.
What's it Good For?
Have you ever been at home and wondered when the next bus was due? Now you can send a text and find out! It means you have all your bus timetables at your fingertips 24/7. No more wondering when the next bus is due. With bustext you can be sure.
What's the Number?
Simply text 19 SMS BUS (19 767 287).
How do I bustext?
To receive timetable information, your SMS message must be formatted correctly. If the message is not formatted correctly an error message will be returned, showing what you need to do to correct it.
You must enter an origin and destination. bustext will give you times for the next 5 bus services that that match your request. To use bustext, Premium Messaging must be activated on your mobile. See your service provider to do this.
Journey from A to B
Simply type a text message in the following format:
Format: from origin to destination
Example: f bonython to city interchange
OR
f bony to cityint
Tip: Adding a street name will give you more accurate information, however you must enter a suburb as well as a street. Entering a street number will add accuracy, however this is optional.
Example: f 22 kingscote bonython to cityint
No capitals or punctuation are needed. Abbreviations of streets and suburbs are allowed to make it easier, however the more information you enter the more accurate the results. You need to enter enough information to ensure your origin or destination is unique.
From A to B After a Time
For journeys departing after a particular time, add the time after the destination:
Format: from origin to destination after time
Example f 22 kingscote bonython to cityint after 6pm
Or
f 22 king bony to cityint a 1800
Using a Route Number
This is the best way if you would like to use a particular bus route. Type in the following format:
Format: bus number from origin to destination
Example: bus 313 f kingscote bonython to cityint
The Return Message
Your return message will look like the one below:
From Stop 1051, KINGSCOTE CR to CITY INTERCHANGE: 09:07(313) 09:39(313) 10:09(313) 10:39(313) 11:09(313) 11:39(313)
The first part of the message includes your bus stop number, origin and destination. It then shows departure times for the bus, with the bus route number in brackets after each time.
Making your Message Shorter
- If your origin or destination consists of more than one word, you can leave a space between the words, or run them together:
e.g. Gungahlin Marketplace could be entered as “gunmar”, “gun mar” or “gungahlin market”.· - When entering a street address, there is no need to put street, crescent etc – just part of the street name and part of the suburb, with a space in between:
e.g. Kingscote Cres Bonython could be entered as "king bony". - If requesting services to a bus interchange, always enter “int” after the relevant bus Interchange required.
For example:
City Interchange = cityint
Belconnen Interchange = bel int or belint
Woden Interchange = wod int or wodint
Tuggeranong Interchange = tug int or tugint
Abbreviations for Common Places
For examples of places in Canberra and their bustext abbreviations, click here.
Bustext Disclaimer
To view our bustext disclaimer, click here.
Questions and Answers
Download our Q&A
(PDF 191kb)
to find the answers your question. .
Where can I Get More Information?
For further information call 13 17 10.