The Independent member for Mount Pearl-Southlands says some parents of students in his district are shocked after learning of significant changes made to a well-established bus route.

The changes mean children in Southlands who attend Newtown Elementary will have an extended ride on the bus each day getting back and forth to school.

Paul Lane told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly the bus route which had been in place for years, is being changed, extending the trip to about 40 minutes each way for some students.

Lane says the old route used to take half that time. He says parents are shocked.

The old route took about 20 minutes, now the kids will be on the bus 40 minutes each way because of the change.