ACTION Buses recorded 3117 boardings on the expanded late-night bus service during the 2014-15 Christmas holiday period - a 21 per cent increase from the year before.

Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury said it was the highest total patronage on record since the 2011-12 festive season.

The biggest boost in passengers was recorded on New Year's Eve, with 1861 passengers - a 45 per cent jump from last year.

"It proves the growing attractiveness of Nightrider as a safe, convenient and low-cost way for people to get home from the city after their Christmas and New Year celebrations," Mr Rattenbury said.

This year's Nightrider service expanded to feature 10 routes which each serviced a different area of Canberra, including newer suburbs in Gungahlin and Weston Creek.

"There were several other improvements to our Nightrider services, including the new streamlined coverage areas for a faster trip home; improved lighting, signage and announcements in the City; and redesigned customer information, which included colour-coded suburb maps," Mr Rattenbury said.

"The increase in patronage shows that these improvements have worked and confirm that Nightrider remains a great option for getting home during the festive season."

The service aims to provide the city's late-night revellers with a safe, reliable and cheap way to get home after a night on the town.

Mr Rattenbury said passengers were well behaved over the four weeks of Nightrider services.