Fears students will be stranded after eastern suburbs bus routes changes

School students fear they will be left stranded by plans to slash bus services in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Critics say the changes are to “force people” to use light rail.

Hundreds of school students are among thousands of residents who fear they’ll be left stranded by NSW government plans to slash bus services in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, in an alleged ploy to “force people” to use the light rail.

Transport Minister And­rew Constance has signalled a raft of changes to bus services across Sydney’s east, including plans to axe 25 routes, modify another 23, and introduce 11 new routes.

St Clare’s College Waverley students Grace Barker, Te Amohia McGlone and Amy McDiarmid. Picture: Richard Dobson

Coogee MP Dr Marjorie O’Neill claimed the proposals were a bid to “force people to use the light rail”, while school leaders have been left concerned about what the changes would mean for students dependent on buses.

St Clare’s College Waverley principal Kerrie McDiarmid told The Telegraph at least 40 per cent of students used popular bus routes such as the 400 and the 314, which are both set to be axed, to get to school from suburbs ­including Botany, Mascot and La Perouse.

“These are services that are needed, and cancelling them is going to have an ­impact … the light rail doesn’t go anywhere near us, so that’s not even an option for us.”

Finn Brennan will be affected by the changes.

Mollie Adair will be affected by the cuts. Bus routes at Coogee that will soon be cut from the services on the Eastern Beaches. picture John Grainger

Dr O’Neill called the move “incredibly shortsighted”, saying the move would push more people to drive on the eastern suburbs’ already choked roads.

Mr Constance said last week: “When we introduced and implemented the light rail we were always going to make significant changes to the bus routes.”

A Transport for NSW spokesman said: “No dedica­ted school services will be ­removed or altered as a result of these proposed changes.”

Proposed changes to eastern suburbs bus routes.

St Clare’s Year 12 student Grace Baker said the changes meant some students would need to catch up to three buses to get to school.

“If the bus cuts go ahead, the students travelling from the areas serviced by these buses will need to find alternate bus routes,” she said.

Mollie Adair of Coogee said: “I’d have to get the light rail and then catch the bus or walk 25 minutes.”

Finn Brennan said the changes would make a longer trip for him and he was ­unlikely to switch to the light rail. “It’s too slow and it doesn’t go anywhere near where I need,” he said.