With all the talk about buses in a recent thread, I thought we should dedicate a thread to Sydney's Buses.

The focus will be on government buses operated by Sydney Buses but discussion on private bus services is welcome as well

Useful Websites

Transport Infoline >>> www.131500.com.au
Sydney Buses >>>www.sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au
Nightride >>> http://www.cityrail.info/nightride/index.jsp

Private Operators (Majors)

Connex (St George, Sutherland Shire & Bankstown) - www.connexnsw.com.au
Westbus (Western Sydney) - www.westbus.com.au
Hills Bus (Hills District) - http://www.hillsbus.com.au
Shorelink (North Shore) - http://www.shorelink.com.au/
Transit First (Bankstown & Liverpool) - http://www.transitfirst.com.au/
Busways (Blacktown, Campbelltown & Central Coast) - http://www.busways.com.au/
Forest Coachlines (Northern Beaches & North Shore) - http://www.forestcoachlines.com.au/html/time/frame.html

Here's a map of the strategic bus corridors planned:
http://www.metrostrategy.nsw.gov.au/dev/uploads/paper/transport/images/Figure_D8_large.gif

Alternative map available here http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/busreview/sydney_strategic_routes.pdf
The first of those corridors to receive funding for improvements (bus lanes, bus priority, slip lanes, new shelters, etc) will be Parramatta-City via Victoria Rd, Liverpool-Bankstown and Miranda-Hurstville.

Connex and Transit First have recently had community consultation on their proposed new networks.
Connex: http://www.connexnsw.com.au/survey/sutw.pdf
Transit First: http://www.transitfirst.com.au/ccArtwork/ccbrochure.pdf

They have been busy with the construction of buslanes on the Miranda - Hurstville Corridor. They just completed a buslane on Port Hacking Rd at Sylvania and have added bus signals at the intersection of Port Hacking Rd & Princes Highway. I'm not impressed with the signals. Buses are forced to miss out a set of lights completely at the intersection, even if they reach the intersection well ahead of time.

The other day, I noticed roadworks have commenced for the addition of a bus lane on King Georges Road at Blakehurst

And from the "Sydney's New Bendy Buses" thread

Nice Photo Fabian.

LOL i refuse to take a pic of them as I don't like their appearance.

I have been on them a few times now, while they are great to have and a much better ride than the old bendies they replace, I still am upset people don't pay more attention to styling when contracts are tendered out however.

This would have to be one of the ugliest buses, and now we are stuck with them for 40+years no doubt. The windows are not flush like some of the slightly earlier volvos. I simply don't like the coach building on these models. Our square light scanias and Volvos are so much more appealing - in fact most Scanias are sexy. There are so many better and more aesthetically appealing designs out there. What about projector lights like all the Hong Kong buses have?

I still like these older volvo's with their coach design - nice flush windows and a front that's not so fussy and quite attractive.
http://www.sydneybuses.info/busfleet/29af.jpg

I also agree that the Volvo's and Scanias from that period are the best buses around, and even a decade later are as good as new. The newer models aren't as good, and I have found that they are merely modern versions of older models.

Have a look at these Mercedes Buses, one from the 80's and one from now

http://www.users.bigpond.com/sta1984/2833.JPG

http://norbertgenciphotos.com/1104.jpg

I also admired the Scanias for their individual seats. Pity that the newer models dont have them. :(

What the fuck is our city doing?
:( :( :( :(

look at this Scania...
http://www.scania.com.au/Images/L94UASkybus_tcm90-70840.jpg


I have travelled on the skybus (Melbourne's version of the now defunct Airport Express) and I wouldn't mind them up here. They are good to ride on and also had individual seats. :)

Why cant they put aircon on the back - it looks ugly on the front. they would at least cover it with side advert panels like some city buses have.

Picky i know but I prefer the visual weight to not make the buses look front heavy.

I also admired the Scanias for their individual seats. Pity that the newer models dont have them.

Yeah, it's a real pity that the new buses don't have individual seats. Not only are they more comfortable - the soft sides of the bench-style seats mean that you seem to slide off into the aisle when sitting on the aisle side - but they stop annoying people from trying to take up both seats for themselves. Women placing their handbags between themselves and the window when sitting on individual seats are likely to get sore arses from the join.

Why cant they put aircon on the back - it looks ugly on the front. they would at least cover it with side advert panels like some city buses have.

Regarding the Mercedes shot I assume you're referring to, it's the gas tank. CNG being a less dense fuel which requires sturdier tanks, it is also carried on the roof of the bus

Connex has been rebranded as Veolia Transport. This will also apply to its other transport operations in Sydney (Monorail and lightrail)

Link >>> www.veoliatransport.com.au

& This one is for you Av :)

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/8420/p42180111ly.jpg

Also I managed a shot of the older style bendy buses. The new ones appear to be the same length than their older counterparts.

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/7613/p42180822qa.jpg

i would have to say im very pleased with sydney buses - sometimes i go to the eastern suburbs for a swim in the many beaches - and most of the buses to the eastern suburbs come at least every 5-10 minutes - its great

You all need to consider that buses are not an 'all-in-one' package.

The chassis comes without a body then gets one fitted to order.

There are a number of chassis munufacturers: Volvo, Mercedes Benz, Scania, MAN
There are a number of body manufacturers: Volgren, Custom Coaches, North Coast and Bustech
The interior fitout including seats is then dependent on what the bus company orders.

The body on Sydney Buses 1626 (Volvo) is a Volgren CR228L

The Body on Sydney Buses 1104 is a Custom Coaches design

The Scania was a North Coast body

The older Volvo was an Orana (Austral/Pacific) body (they have since gone bankrupt)

The older Volvo was an Orana (Austral/Pacific) body (they have since gone bankrupt)

Not before Volvo had to basically bail the factory out as an independant company (Phoenix) to fulfill their contractual obligations to the STA (big mess)

The Scania was a North Coast body



The Scanias were Ansair (based in Tamworth).

Not before Volvo had to basically bail the factory out as an independant company (Phoenix) to fulfill their contractual obligations to the STA (big mess)

Same thing happened with Brisbane Transport. They ordered 60 new Volvo B10Ls and Austral/Pacific went bust towards the end of the production. As a result we had 54 Orana bodied B10Ls (one of them was destroyed by fire) and 6 Volgren bodied B10Ls at the end of the production.

Community consultation has started on the proposed new route network in the Hills to coincide with the opening of the North-West Tway.

http://www.hillsbus.com.au/t-way/t-way.asp

Proposed North-west t-way – Have your say
The North-West T-way is a State Government initiative that will deliver improved public transport services to communities in North-West Sydney. With the completion of the construction work nearing, the planning for bus services has now begun.

As part of this process Busways and Hillsbus - the companies who will provide bus services on the T-way - and the Ministry of Transport are seeking the community's input into the planning of bus services.

Yeah, it's a real pity that the new buses don't have individual seats. Not only are they more comfortable - the soft sides of the bench-style seats mean that you seem to slide off into the aisle when sitting on the aisle side - but they stop annoying people from trying to take up both seats for themselves. Women placing their handbags between themselves and the window when sitting on individual seats are likely to get sore arses from the join.

As a regual on Sydney buses I have to say I loath those new buses with the bench style seating, some of the seats legroom pitch is dreadful.

I get the 470 in the morning to Circular Quay and most of the buses are the newish Merc Gassies which have individual seat, good air con (when the driver remembers to put it on) and about a 7 minute headway in peak.

In the evenings I get the L38 which is usually the low floor Scanias (I think) and they are big roomy and comfortable. Recently we have seen the introduction of the new Volvo's with the bench style seats. I really hate them as I always sit near the rear door to facilitate getting off quickly as they are always jam packed. I get off one of the second stops outside the CBD. My point being the seats near the door have terrible leg room and I am forced to spread my legs to fit in. This means that I take up 2/3rd of the seat and other commuters think I am hogging it.

BTW I am only 6ft tall and not heavy set. Why did they let this design get through? Hopefully the next ones will be better.

Has anyone (who regularly gets Sydney buses) noticed a large increase in patronage?

My morning 470 (7:07am) (Forest Lodge) used to be about 1/2 full a year ago and almost always guaranteed a seat to myself. Now sometimes by the time it gets to my stop it's sometimes near full with standing room only.

The afternoon L38 has always been crammed by Central Broadway, but lately it has filled by King & George St stop and going express all the way to Sydney Uni Bridge on Parra Road. No-one wanted to get off till then.

js

I used to take STA buses until a year ago, when I moved to an area served by Veolia (formerly Connex) and I never noticed a real change on the routes that I used.

Compared to private bus services, they are better patronised and those who use them tend to be regular users.

With Veolia services, I have noticed that the buses are carrying a few more people, but the number is still low compared to STA services. I have never been on a Veolia service where commuters have had to stand.

And from the "Sydney's New Bendy Buses" thread

I also agree that the Volvo's and Scanias from that period are the best buses around, and even a decade later are as good as new. The newer models aren't as good, and I have found that they are merely modern versions of older models.

I have travelled on the skybus and I wouldn't mind them up here. They are good to ride on and also had individual seats. :)

Your really showing just how much you DON'T know about buses.

he's a passenger. He's entitled to his opinion. Why should a passenger give a rats arse about the quality of the body work or the size of the steering wheel or their tendancy to overheat or otherwise give drivers or mechanics grief.

From a passenger perspective:
1) bucket seats
2) air conditioning
3) silicon bonded windows
4) low floor entry
5) always been in STA corporate livery
6) an interior as thoroughly different as the MkII-MkV Mercedes as possible (MkIs being considerably more like older vehicles - esp. Leopards inside)

makes a good bus?

Changes to Veolia services in Sydney's south begin today.

Timetables including a map can be found at www.connexnsw.com.au (still accessible through this link) or www.veoliatransport.com.au.

I also noticed new busstops appearing between Hurstville and Miranda for the 970 and 971 services. They are identical to those used for STA services and are large with alot of space for timetables although they only have one piece of paper covering a small portion of the space with timetabled services.

They are identical to those used for STA services

It's not inconceivable that you may see private buses in STA livery in the not too distant future...

The new Connex timetable along with bus priority measures have been good so far. The Miranda - Hurstville services now arrive within five minutes of their scheduled time. :)

The new Connex timetable along with bus priority measures have been good so far. The Miranda - Hurstville services now arrive within five minutes of their scheduled time. :)

Erk, I wish my buses would be a little more on time. The 470 in the morning is usually on time, however in the afternoon it is always the service of choice for those with no idea of where it stops, no ticket and always packed.

I get the L38 instead and walk the 2 minutes from Parra Road in the arvo.

I wish they would get people down at the Quay and the other city stops to either sell tickets or direct people to a ticket machine (please install them STA) and direct them to the right buses instead of having every poor sucker asking every bus driver "do you go to blah di blah" and then holding up everyone else whilst they dig for money in their wallets.

I see it all the time. A late bus on travelling on George Street is a very late bus.

js

every poor sucker asking every bus driver "do you go to blah di blah" and then holding up everyone else whilst they dig for money in their wallets.

Man, I hate those people. It's even worse when they then stop and have a little discussion with the bus driver about which buses they can catch, what time the next one comes and whatever else they feel like saying to inconvenience a bus full of people. I think it's time for a correct change only policy like they have in Hong Kong (at least I think they have one in Hong Hong).

Hong Kong is just the octopus card for peak services. Should be the same in sydney. If people cant get it together to get a weekly for a bus service they catch every day of their working lives for the past so many years they should not be permitted on the bus. Peak Services or all E or L buses should with out a douth have this policy. Causal users can get and hold up the all stops services :P that my gripe

I believe the octopus card would be great for Sydney. Last christmas, my wife and I went cought public transport in London, Paris, Florence, Rome, Vienna, Lucerne, Munich and Amsterdam. The octopus card used in the underground was excellant. So efficient. Does anybody know if the new smart card that is being tested in Sydney is along the same lines as this? By the way, the only cities that I found to have it a lot better than us (thats better, I am not saying we have it good) were London, Paris and Amsterdam. The others were still pretty good though.

Similar technology but the problem is that it doesn't integrate fares, so combining the system with single tickets, return tickets, TravelTens and periodicals is proving to be rather nightmarish for ERG and the TCard section of the Ministry of Transport (incidentally headed up by the previous STA CEO John Stott)

Public transit smartcard best in west
Chris Jenkins
JULY 11, 2006

NSW remains locked in a death match with its long-running public transport smartcard project, but Western Australia has won the race to install the first major system in Australia.

Leader: WA's transport card

Its SmartRider system is set to be in use by the public by the end of the year.

SmartRider cards have been sent to about 200,000 retired people and 130,000 school students, and other members of the public will be offered the cards by the end of the year, West Australian Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said.

The state has tapped the ability of smartcards to perform functions beyond transport ticketing.

Schools there planned to use them for library and photocopying functions, and a form of student ID, Mr Hynes said.

The applications had been in the works for some time, he said.

"We negotiated with the schools a long way out."

News of that state's progress came amid revelations last week that NSW's long-delayed TCard ticketing system was facing further delays and a further $19 million over-run, the cost of which would be borne by project contractor ERG, whose share price fell to 7.7c yesterday.

The NSW Government is understood to have renegotiated the Tcard contract so it would retain rights to the system should ERG, which was awarded the project in 2001, go under.

A spokesman for NSW Transport Minister John Watkins said developers were having problems coming up with software that could work with the 70 different types of fares used across the state's ferries, buses and trains.

"The delay has been in developing software with the technology to cope with all those options," he said.

NSW has no plans to streamline fare structures and will not commit to a start date for TCard, other than saying it is scheduled for 2007.

Mr Hynes said the West Australian system had a budget of about $30 million in contrast with the $400-$500 million being discussed in NSW and Victoria.

"Clearly their systems are bigger than ours but not by a factor of 10 or 20," he said.

The SmartRider project had had its own delays, tests exposing problems as late as April.

Trials, which began in October, had thrown up a number of problems, including the system not recognising people tagging off while a bus was still moving.

"The manufacturer, the software people and the punters learned as we went along," Mr Hynes said.

Victoria plans to have its smartcard, which will replace the Metcard, available to the public by the end of next year.

"We will definitely have the majority of it done by then," a spokeswoman for the state's Transport Ticketing Authority said.

The project was still on track.

Victoria has yet to run a user trial, which means it could be hit by the sort of last-minute delays that affected SmartRider.

A Victorian user trial is planned for the second or third quarter of next year.

In contrast with NSW, Victoria had the advantage of an already unified ticketing system, the spokeswoman said.

Queensland has a 1000-user smartcard ticketing system on trial in the Brisbane suburb of Redcliffe.

This was the second part of a two-stage trial that began last year and would test ticketing and staff procedures as well as larger numbers of transactions, a spokeswoman for Queensland Transport Minister Paul Lucas said.

Like NSW, Queensland has not committed to a date for public use, but the project remained on track and on target, the spokeswoman said.

http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,19747200%5E15319%5E%5Enbv%5E15306,00.html

A spokesman for NSW Transport Minister John Watkins said developers were having problems coming up with software that could work with the 70 different types of fares used across the state's ferries, buses and trains.

"The delay has been in developing software with the technology to cope with all those options," he said.

NSW has no plans to streamline fare structures and will not commit to a start date for TCard, other than saying it is scheduled for 2007.

Wow, we've got such smart people running this state. Why aren't they using this as an opportunity to streamline the 70 different types of fares? If nothing else, they could introduce a streamlined fare system for TCard users (perhaps working out a few cents cheaper for passengers) to encourage people to use them. Surely there are enourmous savings to be had with an all-TCard system.

One of the problems with integrating fares is the fact that all PT operators have to agree on how they should divide the fare revenue. Sydney was slow enough introducing the travelpass (~30 years it took em) and thats still only available in restricitve periodical limits of 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or 1 year. No 2 hour fares or 2 hour multitrips or anything.

Also, the way T-Card is being implemented is that it is completely out of the PT operators hands. Eg, STA isnt installing, testing or maintaining the gear - ERG is. The PT operators are just along for the ride, being compliant with the T-Card implementation rather than an active participant.

Assuming that the only fares you wish to integrate are:
(1) State run buses
(2) Privately run buses
(3) CityRail
(4) Sydney Ferries

then it's all easy to regulate revenue. The arrangements for private buses are now basically route-based subcontracting from the Ministry of Transport to operators, with operators given a monopoly on bidding within their contract areas.

How you divide is of course an issue. But not really from the providers' point of view, merely from the Ministry's point of view:: bus operators would continue to be paid the same as they are currently (though a system needs to be devised for CityRail) meaning no change for them. It's simply a matter of the Ministry being paranoid it could end up with a massive funding shortfall as a result of integration.

I can also imagine the Airport line being a problem. How is this handled in Brisbane?

How are they planning for it to work, anyway? You buy, say, a weekly and have it stored on your T-Card? If that's the case, I just don't see the point - it's just going to be a paper replacement.

I wonder how many tickets they'll have to sell to make up for all the money wasted on this when they could've just copied a simple system used elsewhere (like the Octopus card, where, as far as I can tell, you pay for what you use).

AFAIK you'll be able to fill it up with periodicals - TravelTens, rail periodicals and periodical Travelpasses - and also a "cash" amount. The system then has to work out (once you "tag off") which is cheapest and deduct it.

I have no idea what you do if don't have enough money for the trip when you tag off. It might hold it as a debt or something.

Yeah, I found the T-Card site that mentions that. I can almost undertand the need to keep monthlies or yearlies (where there are big savings to be had), but weeklies and travel tens? They should just give you every tenth trip free and do away with the notion of tickets - it would be easier for everyone. The only way to know how many rides left on your travel ten or days left on your weekly would be to go to a machine and check (unless each reader you swipe the card on has a huge screen detailing what you've got on the card); doesn't seem like a very user friendly system to me. "$20.53, 8 bus rides, 3 days of train travel and 7 ferry trips remaining" - not exactly the kind of thing you can read as you brush past.

Oh well, at least this explains why the thing is so delayed.

And to get back on topic... I'm looking forward to getting a new job where I can catch the bus instead of stupid trains. Yeah! Bring on the "Sydney buses whinge thread".

There is a formula on how travelpass revenue is divvied up. But its not meant to be public knowledge.

As this is a Sydney Busses thread, I guess I will bring it back to busses. I believe that the STA is moving in the right direction by purchasing 505 new busses. 250 ultra low emission 'Euro 5' diesel buses and 255 compressed natural gas busses. These will be used for heavily trafficked areas. These are to be purchased over the next 5 years. This is for those who do not have a copy of the state infrastructure strategy.

As this is a Sydney Busses thread, I guess I will bring it back to busses. I believe that the STA is moving in the right direction by purchasing 505 new busses. 250 ultra low emission 'Euro 5' diesel buses and 255 compressed natural gas busses. These will be used for heavily trafficked areas. These are to be purchased over the next 5 years. This is for those who do not have a copy of the state infrastructure strategy.
Will the old non-air-conditioned busses be gradually withdrawn as these new ones are introduced?

I can only imagine so. With the opening of the north west busway, they will need more busses. They should make it so every bus company both government and privately owned is either low emissions or gas. There is enough pollution in our country. It is time to minimise it.

I don't believe the State Transit Authority has any intention for tendering for the North-West T-Ways. They're about to have their concession over the Liverpool-Parramatta one taken away.

But with the state government directly subsidising all operators' vehicle purchases, they will be [partly] paying for those extra buses anyway.

Almost all operators in Australia purchase vehicles from one of the continental European chassis manufacturers. They all provide engines that comply with the current mandated European environmental standards. Currently Euro 3, soon to be Euro 4 (and Mercedes gas vehicles comply with Euro 5)

I have no idea what you do if don't have enough money for the trip when you tag off. It might hold it as a debt or something.

That is what happens with the Oyster Card in London. You cannot use your card in future until you pay the balance owing.

DEPUTY PREMIER
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT
JOHN WATKINS MP
N E W S R E L E A S E

Phone: (02) 9228 4866 ‐‐ Fax: (02) 9228 4857 ‐‐ Email: dp.office@watkins.minister.nsw.gov.au
Page 1 of 4
EXTRA SYDNEY BUS SERVICES LAUNCHED
AHEAD OF “PETROL AND MORTGAGE” PATRONAGE SPIKES
Thursday 3rd August 2006
The Iemma Government will provide additional public transport services from next week to cater for the expected patronage spikes from commuters hit by the Federal ‘double whammy’ of spiralling petrol prices and increased mortgage repayments.

The State Transit Authority will introduce additional buses on around 22 busy routes across Sydney concentrating on the AM and PM peaks.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport John Watkins announced the move today during the keynote speech at the Sydney Transport Summit.

“These bus deployments are designed to relieve some of the pressure the Federal Government has caused by its inaction on rising petrol and mortgage costs – which are hitting hard-working families hard,” Mr Watkins said.

“We expect the increasing impact on the family budget may convince more people to leave the car at home and opt for public transport. We’ll provide these services to ensure that additional capacity.

“Between January and April this year, 60,000 additional people a week abandoned the car in favour of STA bus services – we expect those increases to continue.

“Another 103,000 people a week have been using CityRail since the introduction of the safer, more reliable timetable in September 2005.”

“We’ll put the extra buses on the busiest routes – Epping Road, Military Road, the Pittwater corridor, Eastern Valley Way, Glebe Point Road, Anzac Parade and Victoria Road.

“And the additional services come on top of changes the STA will make to drop-off points for buses coming across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the AM peak – to improve travel times for thousands more commuters,” Mr Watkins said.

Mr Watkins used the Transport Summit to detail the extensive plans the Iemma Government had unveiled to improve Sydney’s public transport over the medium to long term and tackled the ongoing debate about putting trams back into Sydney’s CBD.

“We’re building a better transport system with new trains, new tracks, greater reliability, better bus services and a major increase to our ferries budgets,” Mr Watkins said.

“The Iemma Government has outlined a capital investment of $15 billion over the next 15 years to improve the safety, reliability, comfort and convenience of public transport.

“In the context of these practical and tangible improvements, it’s important to look at the light rail debate closely.”

Mr Watkins told the Summit the limitations of all current CBD tram proposals included:
􀂃 The proposed tram corridors of George and Castlereagh Streets would mean a mixture of cars and trams, with trams restricted to the low operating speed of 7-9kilometres an hour;
􀂃 Passengers would have to interchange off buses (probably at Central Station) to complete their journey on trams. Studies show 89 per cent of bus users oppose such an arrangement and 54 per cent would not transfer, walking instead;
􀂃 Demand by 2021 would require a 45 second frequency on both corridors. However, the maximum frequency of trams is around four minutes – less than 25 per cent of what would be required in 15 years;
􀂃 Future capacity expansion would require a doubling of tram length, impracticable for central Sydney;
􀂃 Buses deliver greater capacity with 5600 passengers per hour on buses, compared to 5200 passengers per hour on trams;
􀂃 Bus options can be introduced with better outcomes at a substantial reduction in cost and with far great operating flexibility (evidenced by today’s new service announcement); and
􀂃 The lead time to implement a light rail system is significant, disruptive and costly (around $200 million is required to build a Central-Circular Quay loop)
.
“I will continue to discuss trams with anyone or any group that wants to champion their use in Sydney,” Mr Watkins said.

“I have an open mind to all transport solutions that offer a practical and sensible outcome for Sydney.

“But these are questions that need to be addressed before tram proposals can progress,” he said.

Contact: Matt Martyn-Jones 0419 418 394
*A list and map of the new services is attached.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

SOUTH
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services along Parramatta Road & Liverpool Road on Routes 480 & 483
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services along King Street on Routes 423 and 426
􀂃 Extra AM services from Pyrmont to City on Route 443
􀂃 Extra PM services from City to Darling Street on Route 442
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services via Camperdown on Route 470

WEST
􀂃 Extra AM services to Macquarie University on Route 296:
􀂃 Route 296 from Epping at 8:08am, 8:28am and 8:48am
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services along Epping Road:
􀂃 Route 291 from Epping & Mowbray Roads to the City, departing at 7:21am
􀂃 Route 288 from the City to Macquarie University, departing at 3:55pm
􀂃 Route 294 from Macquarie University to the City, departing at 5:10pm
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services along Willoughby Road:
􀂃 Route 273 from Willoughby to the City, departing at 8:21am
􀂃 Route 273 from the City to Chatswood, departing at 3:35pm, 4:25pm, 4:45pm, 5:35pm and 5:55pm
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services along Pacific Highway:
􀂃 Route 290 from Lane Cove to the City, departing at 7:17am
􀂃 Route 290 from St Leonards to the City, departing at 8:13am
􀂃 Route 254 from the City to Lane Cove Shops, departing at 3:22pm
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services on Route 545:
􀂃 From Eastwood to Macquarie University, departing at 7:23am and 8:13am
􀂃 From Parramatta to Chatswood, departing at 4:11pm
􀂃 From Chatswood to Eastwood, departing at 5:55pm.
􀂃 Extra AM services from Parramatta to UWS Nepean Rydalmere on Route 521:
􀂃 From Parramatta to Rydalmere, departing at 7:45am and 8:15am

NORTH
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services along Pittwater Road:
􀂃 Route E84 from Mona Vale to City, departing at 7:11am
􀂃 Route L90 from Narrabeen to the City, departing at 8:09am
􀂃 Route E79 from Warringah Mall to City, departing at 7:50am
􀂃 Route E79 from Manly Vale to City departing at 7:38am
􀂃 Route L80 from Dee Why to City, departing at 7:30am
􀂃 Route E83 from the City to Narrabeen, departing at 5:40pm
􀂃 1 extra PM trip from City
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services along Military Road:
􀂃 Route 245 from Neutral Bay Junction to the City, departing at 8:35am
􀂃 Route 245 from Cremorne Junction to the City, departing at 8:38am
􀂃 Route 246 from City to Spit Junction
􀂃 2 extra PM trips

EAST
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services via Surry Hills on Route 301, using high-capacity buses on some of these trips and existing trips:
􀂃 From Mascot to the City, departing at 7:20am
􀂃 From the City to Mascot, departing at 5:05pm, 5:15pm, 5:20pm, 6:05pm, 6:15pm and 6:38pm
􀂃 From the City to Eastlakes, departing at 5:10pm, 5:35pm and 6:10pm
􀂃 From Rosebery (Dalmeny Av & Gardeners Rd) to the City, departing at 7:25am and 7:51am
􀂃 From Zetland to the City, departing at 8:16am
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services along Botany Road on Route 309, using high-capacity buses on some of these trips and existing trips:
􀂃 From Banksmeadow to the City, departing at 7:54am
􀂃 From Mascot to the City, departing at 7:54am
􀂃 From the City to Matraville Hotel, departing at 5:22pm and 5:29pm
􀂃 Extra AM and PM services via Rosebery on Route 343:
􀂃 From Rosebery to the City, departing at 7:45am
􀂃 From the City to Kingsford, departing at 3:37pm, 4:28pm and 5:18pm
􀂃 Extra PM service on suburban Route 353:
􀂃 From Bondi Junction to Coogee, departing at 3:25pm
􀂃 Extra PM services along Bondi Road & Oxford Street on Route 380:
􀂃 From the City to Bondi Beach, departing at 4:13pm and 6:13pm
􀂃 From Bondi Beach to the City, departing at 5:07pm
􀂃 Extra AM services via Paddington on Route 389:
􀂃 From Bondi Junction to the City, departing at 8:22am
􀂃 Extra AM services along Anzac Parade to Railway Square on Route 393, including the use of high-capacity buses on some existing trips:
􀂃 From Maroubra Jn to Railway Square, departing at 8:46am
􀂃 Extra AM and PM express services between Central and UNSW on Routes 891 and 895, using high-capacity buses on some trips:
􀂃 Route 891 from UNSW to Central, departing at 4:37pm, 4:42pm, 4:55pm and 5:25pm
􀂃 Route 895 from UNSW to Central, departing at 4:10pm and 4:45pm
􀂃 Extra AM and PM express services via Randwick Junction on Route X73:
􀂃 From Coogee to the City, departing at 7:39am
􀂃 From The Spot to the City, departing at 8:37am
􀂃 From the City to Coogee, departing at 5:06pm and 6:14pm

What would be really good is buses that ran both ways between the Northern Beaches (Mona Vale, say) and Chatswood, via Warringah Mall/Mosman/Neutral Bay/Crows Nest & St Leonards. So many people who get on at Neutral Bay and Spit Junction are those that had to swap buses between the Chatswood to Manly (144/143) to City to Northern Beaches (178,180/190 etc) on their way home to the Northern Beaches. Would make it faster for all concerned!

I get approximately 0 extra services. Though I shouldn't really complain seeing as the corridor has a nominal ~3 minute frequency in peak....

Few other things
* Nothing done about the lack of 89x services leaving UNSW from 2:30 to 4:30 which in turn means no one after UNSW can get on a 393 during these hours
* "using high capacity buses" seems to anticipate Port Botany depot getting Waverley depots 14.5m buses a month to 6 weeks prematurely (Waverley not to be commencing using articulated buses for this length of time)
* doesn't make up for all the off peak services cut this year

What would be really good is buses that ran both ways between the Northern Beaches (Mona Vale, say) and Chatswood, via Warringah Mall/Mosman/Neutral Bay/Crows Nest & St Leonards. So many people who get on at Neutral Bay and Spit Junction are those that had to swap buses between the Chatswood to Manly (144/143) to City to Northern Beaches (178,180/190 etc) on their way home to the Northern Beaches. Would make it faster for all concerned!
The route 136 service (Chatswood - Manly via Dee Why) could be used by many of these passengers I presume, unless they lived down around Seaforth or Balgowlah where they could simply catch the 143 or 144.

^^ The idea is that those in the mid-upper Northern Beaches that work in St Leonards and Crows Nest only need to get on one bus (not one/two bus/es and a train, or two buses as is the current situation), with the added bonus of extra frequency of buses on the notoriously bad route from Mosman/Cremorne/Neutral Bay to Crows Nest/St Leonards/Chatswood. I often have to wait 30 minutes for a bus to Crows Nest (143,144) from Cremorne despite a supposed frequency of 15 mins.

This is good news but a little bit too late given the fact that the people that will need the new services are in areas with high mortgages with poor public transport already.

The government is really doing it's best to create solutions that work, and in the short term more buses will be a practicle solution as we have invested heavily in road transport over the years.

But in the long term, considering we are entering the age of the end of cheap liquid fuels, buses will become expensive to run and a proper metro and light rail network will have to be built. It's a shame the state government doesn't quit it's road building program and concentrate on building an underground city bus network or light rail and a new metro to the more densely populated suburbs.





I get approximately 0 extra services. Though I shouldn't really complain seeing as the corridor has a nominal ~3 minute frequency in peak....

More AM frequency on my 470 is absolutely needed. For the small amount of km's I travel the bus is always chocka block even when they deploy 3 buses at once from Circular Quay in the afternoon.

In the morning it is worse and I have to leave pre 7am now just to get to work by 7:30am.

js

Has anyone used the new 333 service to Bondi with the new Volvo Artics and only "pre-pay allowed"?

I wish they would do that on all express services, at the very least in peak. The amount of stupid people who continue to run up and ask the bus driver if they go to ""xxx" stop and how much it is, is incredible and can hold up my L38 service for 5 minutes or more at a time.

The need to make ALL the bus services "pre-pay only".

js

Yeah, I caught one this morning. It sure was exciting for me; I've never caught a bendy bus before! It would be even faster if they'd hurry up with the T-Card - 15 people dipping travel tens isn't exactly fast. I noticed a (covered) T-Card reader near the door, so at least they're ready forit when it comes.

I know it's been mentioned before, but why on earth do the new bendy buses have such small back doors? Were the government just desperate to get another 2 seats on there?

Has anyone used the new 333 service to Bondi with the new Volvo Artics and only "pre-pay allowed"?

yes twice, although it was outbound at around noon and not today (which was actually hot) so it was pretty empty. No problems with dingbats trying to pay cash though.


I know it's been mentioned before, but why on earth do the new bendy buses have such small back doors? Were the government just desperate to get another 2 seats on there?

The explanation I heard was something to do with having batteries there, but I don't know for sure...

yes twice, although it was outbound at around noon and not today (which was actually hot) so it was pretty empty. No problems with dingbats trying to pay cash though.




The explanation I heard was something to do with having batteries there, but I don't know for sure...

You might be right on that, although the reason I heard was that because the bendies are high capacity low stop services egress times with just the small back door are suitable for express routes.

Someone in the know will tell us soon I'm sure.

*prays for L38 route bendies that are cashless*

js :)

New timetables for the Lower North Shore & Northern Beaches to commence on August 2

Info and timetables are available now - http://www.sydneybuses.info/news/238/234.htm