Magnetic Island commuters, tourists and Townsville-bound shoppers are set to benefit from the return of the City Loop bus service - now called the Sunbus Redbus - which will collect ferry passengers from the Sunferries Breakwater Terminal and distribute them to the city and other important near-city destinations including the full length of the Strand.

Transit Australia Group (TAG), parent company to Sunbus, will start the new service on Tuesday the 7th of July.

The Redbus has been described by TAG as,"unusual looking with a 1920s flavour," and will commence from the Breakwater Terminal on Tuesday 7th after the 7.30am (7.10am from Nelly Bay) Sunferries' service arrives.

The Sunbus Redbus route design is a new and improved version of the old City Loop service. According to Sunbus, improvements include: more attractive timetable and frequency (25 mins).

Magnetic Island Sunbus Manager, Jan Pranskunus, told Magnetic Times, "It's a service for commuters, shoppers and tourists. It will also run the whole length of the Strand from the Rockpool and pick-up from accommodation houses along the way."

The Sunbus Redbus will connect Magnetic Island residents and visitors to all of Townsville’s popular city sites, including:

Sunferries Terminal – For Magnetic Island Transfers
Flinders St – Nightlife and Shopping
Palmer St – Restaurants and Hotels
Council’s Free Carparks – Dean and Alpin Street Metrolink Street
The Strand – Swimming, Family Attractions, Restaurants
Jupiters Casino

Sunbus Redbus will link up to all Magnetic Island Sunferries from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm, offering Magnetic Island residents and visitors a reliable transfer service between Magnetic Island and Townsville.

The service will run approximately every 25 minutes, 7 days per week.

The service replaces the extended A1 service which had replaced the former City Loop and connected with the ferry terminal but not always at convenient times to the arrival and departure of the ferries.

The service will be co-funded by Townsville City Council who are contributing $60,000, raised from parking revenue, with further support from the State Government.

Timetable details will be available from Tuesday 2 July at www.sunbus.com.au and will also be available on Sunbus vehicles and at the Sunferries' Terminal.

For more information contact: Magnetic Island Sunbus (4778 5130) or Townville Sunbus (4725 8482).