ACTION runs a limited free service between 9am and 5pm on the day, with 14 drivers rostered on.

Driver Neil Gibson has worked a few Christmases before, and said people tended to share good wishes a little more than usual.

''It adds a new dimension to Christmas,'' he said. ''You've done a certain style of Christmas all your life, then all of a sudden you're working.'' Rien Wiersma said it was great having the service on Christmas, as it meant he could enjoy Christmas lunch at the Belconnen Labor Club with his wife, Lois, and not worry about watching his drinks or organising a taxi.

''I'm a bit poorly organised this year, I've usually got a box of chockies for the driver,'' he said. ''We can take a taxi, it's not prohibitive, or anything like that. It's just so much more convenient, and you know the bus is going to be there. You don't always know that taxis are going to turn up.''

Allen Brien, of Civic, planned to make extensive use of the free service through the day. He was on his way to West Belconnen to see his partner, and was then going to take a bus to Tuggeranong to visit family.