Northern beaches: B-Line to go 24/7, plus new fast route to Chatswood
Major transport news for the northern beaches and north shore, with 2000 new services, including a 24-hour bus service to the city, and a new fast bus link from east to west. DETAILS HERE.
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The northern beaches is to get a major transport boost with the B-Line service to run 24/7 and a new fast bus service from Dee Why to Chatwood.
Manly MP James Griffin said the B-line city service would be extended 24-hours a day, it currently stops at midnight and restarts at 4am.
Meanwhile, the long awaited fast bus service to Chatswood will launch in December, date to be confirmed.
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It will be a single deck bus running every 10 minutes from Dee Why to Chatswood, nine stops in total.
And, there will be new all-day services to the city from North Balgowlah and additional peak services to the city from Allambie Heights.
The service will connect the northern beaches to Chatswood metro.
Mr Griffin said the 24/7 B-line service will help with the CBD revitalisation and the new 24 hour economy for music and nightlife.
Meanwhile, the Chatswood service is a win for commuters.
“The much anticipated turn up and go service from Dee Why to Chatswood, along with the expansion of the B-Line to a 24/7 service is a public transport win for commuters of the northern beaches,” Mr Griffin said.
“We said we would do it and we have delivered on that commitment.”
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the 24-hour service, designed to kickstart the economy, will start in December.
“We have got to bounce back stronger than ever, and the best way to do this is to be able to grow services all day round,” he said.
“We are also going to improve the frequency of services, which means B-Line every ten minutes (and) overnight services every 30 minutes between midnight and 4 am, seven days a week from Mona Vale to the CBD.”
The transport Minister said an extra 2000 services on the northern beaches would improve the way people get around and “will operate similarly to the B-Line services”.
Transport for NSW chief operations officer, Howard Collins said the move by the government was about “integrating transport services” and connecting core bus routes in the Northern Beaches with the key rail hub of the future at Chatswood.
“This will certainly help essential workers and the night-time economy,” Mr Collins said.
MP for Pittwater Rob Stokes confirmed the 199 service (Palm Beach/Avalon Beach to Manly) will also run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The service will be boosted to operate at a 10 minute frequency across the day to Palm Beach and at least every 20 minutes overnight to Avalon Beach.
There will also be improved 10 minute frequencies during the peaks for the 191 service (Avalon-Clareville-Bilgola Plateau loop), 185 service (Warriewood-Narrabeen), and 182 service (Mona Vale-Elanora Heights-Narrabeen).
The 190X (Avalon Beach to City) reconfigured service will also operate on a 10 minute frequency during the weekday peaks.
This service will replace the current 188X.
The new 181X service will operate between Narrabeen and the City every 10 minutes during the peaks.
And the new 160X high frequency rapid service (Dee Why to Chatswood) using Warringah Road will also run every 10 minutes throughout the day.
Changing passenger travel patterns, the addition of all-day services operating along the main transport corridor and the introduction of high frequency feeder services mean certain routes will be replaced or reconfigured. These will include the 154X, 183X, 185X, 188X and 189X.
“These changes reflect the significant shifts we’re seeing in how people are using our public transport network,” Rob Stokes said.
“A lot has changed recently with new routes, new technology, new on-demand services and new travel habits. It’s important these factors are echoed in timetable updates.
“The sight of empty buses trundling along back streets obviously isn’t responsible or sustainable.
“We need to see more buses allocated to where they’re needed most, and more people given flexibility to travel at different times of the day.”
He added that the uptake of Keoride among commuters has exceeded all expectations and the B-Line is now firmly established in the community’s go-to service.
“Even before COVID, Opal card data was showing a gradual shift in people commuting outside the usual peak periods, and the rising appeal of high-frequency, turn-up-and-go services.
“By providing improved connections to our local transport hubs, and rapid services throughout the day along our main transport corridor, we’re quickly moving towards a point where timetables are becoming unnecessary,” Mr Stokes said.
“We could also see exciting opportunities coming up to help reduce the carbon footprint of our bus fleet by introducing quieter, cleaner and more efficient electric buses on our feeder routes – and even solar charging infrastructure at the Mona Vale depot.”
Transport for NSW will be liaising with Northern Beaches Council on further shelter enhancements at local transport hubs to help support the changes.
Zali Steggall Federal MP, independent for Warringah, said she welcomed the announcement.
“Residents of the northern beaches deserve proper traffic solutions. Our recent traffic survey showed that this east-west bus line was urgently needed,” she said.
“I will continue to advocate on behalf of the community, and work with the Councils and all levels of Government to achieve fantastic results like this.”
The new all-day frequent routes include:
*Dee Why to Chatswood via Frenchs Forest with limited stops
*Palm Beach to Manly via Mona Vale and Dee Why
*Manly to Chatswood via St Leonards
*Mosman to the city
*Mona Vale to the city B-Line service.
The changes are due to commence on 20 December. Further details are available at www.transportnsw.info