Public Notice: Easter Sunday Service Updates and Daylight Savings Transition

Daylight Savings Time Concludes

The ACT Government reminds all residents that Daylight Savings Time officially ends this Sunday, 5 April 2026. At 3:00 am, clocks should be turned back one hour to 2:00 am. While most digital devices and smartphones will update automatically, manual clocks and appliances should be adjusted before retiring on Saturday evening. This transition marks the return to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), providing an extra hour of sleep and shifted daylight patterns for the autumn season.

Transport Canberra Holiday Timetable

In observance of the Easter Sunday public holiday, Transport Canberra will operate all bus and light rail services on a Sunday/Public Holiday timetable. Passengers should be aware of the following adjustments:

• Bus Services: Routes will follow the standard Sunday frequency. Selected Rapid routes and local services may have reduced trip counts compared to regular weekdays.
• Light Rail: Frequency will be maintained at a Sunday level, with services typically running every 15 minutes throughout the day.
• Infrastructure Impact: Ongoing works associated with the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge renewal project continue to affect travel times. Southbound services may experience minor delays due to current lane configurations and the localized construction network.

Commuters are encouraged to use the journey planner on the Transport Canberra website to confirm specific departure times for their routes.

Retail Trading and Government Closures

Easter Sunday is a recognized public holiday across the Australian Capital Territory. While the ACT does not enforce the same strict trading restrictions as some neighboring jurisdictions, many major supermarkets, department stores, and specialty retailers will operate on reduced hours or remain closed for the day. Local libraries, most government shopfronts (Access Canberra), and administrative offices including ACT Leave will be closed, with standard operations resuming on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.

ACT Health and Safety Advisories

Public health services remain accessible for urgent care throughout the long weekend. ACT Health Walk-in Centres in Belconnen, Gungahlin, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek, and the inner north will remain open from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, residents should continue to call Triple Zero (000).

Additionally, ACT Policing reminds motorists that double demerit points are in effect for all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone, and motorcycle helmet offenses. These penalties remain active until 11:59 pm on Monday, 6 April, to encourage safe travel during the high-volume holiday period.