State Budget: Government will spend $1.5 billion on bus services across NSW

SYDNEY’S expanding population is doing a good job of stretching the city’s transport network but relief is in sight with the Berejiklian Government revealing that over 2000 extra bus services a week will be announced as part of the State Budget.

MORE than 2000 extra bus services a week will be added to Sydney in the State Budget in a bid to tackle the growth pains stretching the city’s transport network.

The new bus services will particularly target Western Sydney and the northern beaches to meet the areas’ growing demand.

Under the plan, the government will purchase 400 new and replacement buses while also employing 70 new drivers.

“We have seen enormous growth in the demand for public transport and we are stepping up to meet the challenge,” Transport Minister Andrew Constance said.

Chloe Christie takes the bus from Hunters Hill to the city. Picture: Justin Lloyd

The State Budget will provide funding for the services and the purchase of more buses.

The Budget will make a $1.5 billion investment in bus travel across the state. About $185 million is a new investment, with the plan to add:

● more than 1000 extra weekly services to the northern beaches to improve ­access to the hospital and ­address demand in the Frenchs Forest area;

● more than 500 extra weekly services to areas across Western Sydney, including the Hills District in the northwest, and southwest Sydney;

● an extra 60 weekly services from Sydney Olympic Park to Chatswood via Wentworth Point;

● an extra 110 services an hour between Epping and Chatswood — at least every six minutes during the peak;

● and more than 600 extra services across the eastern suburbs, Lane Cove, North Ryde and West Ryde.

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Over 2000 extra bus services a week is expected to unburden Sydney’s transport network.

Mr Constance said in addition to the new services, the government was also delivering with 13 on-demand bus service trials across the state.

“This means customers can get affordable door-to- door service in addition to our extensive list of scheduled services,” he said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the government had delivered more than 30,000 extra weekly transport services across the state since 2011.

“As a regular bus commuter, I know how much people rely on our services, and I am pleased we are able to continue to improve and increase services, particularly in areas with high demand,” she said.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the June 19 Budget would be focused on “helping people and investing in delivering services they depend on — like buses”.

Buses arrive at Wynyard in the city. Picture: Mark Evans

FULL LIST OF SERVICES

A full list of routes being added or receiving additional services as part of this announcement is:

WESTERN SYDNEY (INCLUDING HILLS DISTRICT AND SOUTH WEST)

More than 500 additional weekly services on the following routes:

· 614X Crestwood to City via M2

· 662 Box Hill to Riverstone

· 705 Blacktown to Parramatta via Seven Hills

· 783 Penrith to Werrington Station via Jordan Springs

· 804 Bonnyrigg to Parramatta via Fairfield

· 841 Gledswood Hills to Leppington

· 869 Ingleburn to Prestons

· M61 Baulkham Hills to City via M2

· T72 Rouse Hill to Quakers Hill via Alex Avenue

· T74 Stanhope Gardens to Schofields Station

SYDNEY METROPOLITAN

More than 1,000 additional weekly services, two new routes and an extended route to support the new Northern Beaches Hospital and Frenchs Forest precinct:

· New route 141 Manly to Austlink via Balgowlah and Northern Beaches Hospital

· 169 Manly and Dee Why to City via Northern Beaches Hospital and Seaforth

· New route 193 Austlink to Warringah Mall via Frenchs Forest and Northern Beaches Hospital

· 136 Manly to Chatswood via Dee Why and Frenchs Forest

· 270, 271 Frenchs Forest District to City

More than 600 additional weekly services on the following routes:

· 194 St Ives to City

· 251 Lane Cove West to City via Lane Cove

· 253 Riverview to City via Lane Cove

· 285 Mars Road Lane Cove to City via Lane Cove

· 288 Epping to City via North Ryde

· 292 Lane Cove North to City

· 293 Marsfield to City via Epping Road

· 294 Macquarie University to City via Epping Road

· 313 Coogee to Bondi Junction

· 328 Darling Point to Bondi Junction via Edgecliff

· 343 Kingsford to City via Rosebery

· 386, 387 Vaucluse to Bondi Junction

· 501 West Ryde to Railway Square via Ultimo

· 533 Sydney Olympic Park to Chatswood via Ryde and Wentworth Point

· M54 Parramatta to Macquarie Park via Epping

· X10 Pagewood to Railway Square via Botany Road

OUTER METROPOLITAN

Lower Hunter

· 262, 263 Cameron Park to Charlestown

Illawarra

· 32 Brooks Reach to Dapto

Blue Mountains

· 686 Katoomba to Echo Point