Northern beaches buses: Warning that allowing private company take over will lead to service drop

The community has been warned that services will suffer if a private company is allowed to run State Transit bus services on the northern beaches – but authorities say it will be an improvement.

Signs at the anti-public bus privatisation demonstration outside NSW Liberal MP for Wakehurst, Brad Hazzard's electorate office at Dee Why. Critics of the plan say unproftable routes on the northern beahces will be axed. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

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Critics of a move to allow a private company to run public buses on the northern beaches say the axing of routes in another part of the city sends a clear warning that services here will also suffer.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) claims the private contractor that now runs State Transit buses in the inner west has slashed nine routes.

And the union says the same thing will happen on the peninsula.

Keelah Lam of Fairlight at the protest against privatisation of the service outside Brookvale bus depot. Picture: AAP/Mark Scott

But transport authorities say franchising region 8, which takes in the northern beaches and Lower North Shore, will actually deliver better bus services.

The union warning comes as Transport for NSW (TfNSW) confirmed that the successful tenderer for the contract to run region 8 buses on behalf of the State Government will not be announced until early next year.

It was previously understood the awarding of the contract was scheduled for November with the new operator taking over services in mid-2021.

Some of the 200 people who attended a community rally at Mona Vale opposed to the franchising of bus services on the northern beaches. Picture: Rail, Tram and Bus Union

Critics have slammed the franchising move as “privatisation” that would end up with unprofitable routes being dropped, fewer bus stops and jobs being lost.

There has been a series of community protests against the move. During the most recent demonstration, bus drivers and supporters rallied outside state Liberal MP’s electorate offices at Manly, Dee Why and Mona Vale.

Last week TfNSW said customers in the inner west will benefit from almost 1000 more weekly services starting on October 25 including faster services on some busy routes and more services on Sundays. The services are operated by private company, Transit Systems.

TfNSW’s chief operations officer, Howard Collins, said some inner west routes will be replaced by new routes or extra services on existing routes.

But the RTBUs bus division secretary, David Babineau, said the longstanding fears of bus drivers had been vindicated with the axing of some inner west routes.

Anti-public bus privatisation demonstrators outside NSW Liberal MP for Wakehurst, Brad Hazzard's electorate office at Dee Why. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

“This is straight from the privatisation play book,” Mr Babineau said. “Private operators cancel less profitable routes, leaving the commuters who need them most, behind.

“Meanwhile the government is lauding the benefits of extra services on trunk routes, which run untimetabled buses to prop up the on-time running figures.

“Community members on the North Shore, northern beaches and in any region currently out for tender, can expect a similar fate for their local buses if privatisation goes ahead.

“I feel deeply for the commuters who happen to live on one of these less profitable routes, who rely on these buses to get by and will now be left behind because their services weren’t deemed profitable enough to run.”

A TfNSW spokesman told the Manly Daily that franchising region 8 buses will lead to better services.

“We’re looking for the tender to deliver new and innovative services that customers want, including ‘turn-up-and-go’ and more on-demand services, as well as higher frequency and more convenient services through the day and into the evening.”