First B-Line buses arrive in Sydney offering glimpse of the peninsula’s public transport future

THE  first two buses have arrived in Australia, with a total of 38 double-deckers to operate from Newport to the CBD.

THE  first two B-Line buses have arrived in Australia, offering a glimpse of the future of public transport on the peninsula.

The double-decker buses will be rolled out around October when work on the B-Line from Newport to the CBD is complete.

B-Line interior

In total 38 B-Line buses will be built in Germany and assembled in Malaysia.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said it was a huge step forward for the northern beaches.

“Later this year the B-Line is going to be running well for the people of the northern beaches,” he said.

“It is a turn up and go service — it provides, particularly for those on the northern beaches a service after 7pm from the city which those on the beaches have had concerns about.”

Manly MP James Griffin and Transport Minister Andrew Constance at Manly. Picture: Adam Yip.

However, he acknowledged it was a “short to medium-term” solution.

“We all know with the congested roads … it is not until we see the Beaches Link Tunnel that you will obviously see very significant changes in terms of travel times in the region,” he said.

Footage taken of a B-Line bus in operation. Picture: Supplied.

“But we have the geotech work underway, the tunnel will cater for buses … so the B-Line will eventually go underground.”

Manly state Liberal MP James Griffin, whose electorate will have three of the four commuter carparks, said the service would add much-needed consistency for residents.

Footage taken of a B-Line bus. Picture: Supplied.

“The bus service will run like a shuttle, so previously you had to look up a time table, with this people can just turn up park their car in the parking station, or get public transport or the B-Line and jump on,” he said.

Each bus will have 86 seats with standing room for 15 people — more than the standard two-door buses that have a capacity for 43 people, and “bendy buses” that are able to carry 64 people.