Northern beaches public buses: Private company takes over — what it means for you
Critics warn that some local runs will be axed now that a private company is running public bus services on the northern beaches – but authorities say the ‘franchising' will bring improvements.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A State Government decision to allow a private company to run public bus services on the northern beaches will lead to short, local runs being axed because they don’t make a profit, its critics have warned.
Thousands of bus services on the peninsula, and lower north shore, are now being delivered by French transport giant Keolis Downer as part of a franchising agreement that started on Monday.
But the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) says that, over time, the company will push the government to allow it to drop unprofitable routes, slash the number of bus stops, alter timetables and increase fares.
As part of the franchising deal, the government will still decide the timetable, routes.
It says the move will improve customer service and on-time running as well as provide better value for money for taxpayers.
In December last year, six months before the government announced Keolis Downer was taking over the public routes, it introduced a radical new bus timetable for the northern beaches.
State Transit said it included an additional 2000 new services a week, including a 24/7 B-Line service and buses operating every 10 minutes, seven days a week, on five key routes — 160X Dee Why to Chatswood; 199 Palm Beach to Manly via Mona Vale and Dee Why; 144 Manly to Chatswood via St Leonards; 100 Mosman to the city and the B-Line – Mona Vale to the city.
The changes also meant that a number of other direct bus services were replaced with shorter connecting buses to interchange hubs such as Seaforth, Warringah Mall, Narrabeen and Mona Vale, where passengers now have to get another bus to complete their journeys.
Locations where bus services changed included Avalon, Warriewood Valley, Cromer, Narraweena and Balgowlah Heights, where higher frequency local services now connect to new frequent routes at key transport hubs for travel to the Sydney CBD and major local centres.
The changes also lead to some bus stops being moved or scrapped altogether.
RTBU bus division secretary David Babineau said on Monday that while passengers would notice little difference at first, changes to services were likely under the private operator.
But Mr Babineau predicted there would be a decrease in “small, local runs” despite the government obligation to provide equal opportunity for people to access public transport.
“Going forward, when profit is the prime mover for the service changes, then the small run that goes down, once every two hours at a weekend to a retirement village on a weekend will go.
“It won’t be financially viable.”
“There are several runs like that around every depot and the people they service are the most disadvantaged.
“It's on of the struts of government-provided public transport that the profitable runs are used to subsides the least profitable.”
Transport Minister Rob Stokes said 24,000 service will run in “Region 8” (northern beaches and lower north shore) each week.
“Keolis Downer will deliver more than 1.2 million services a year for customers, while generating savings which will be invested into new electric buses,” Mr Stokes said.
“As diesel buses are retired from the fleet Keolis Downer will replace these with electric buses, with more than 100 new zero-emission buses to be introduced to the area over the next eight years.”
Mr Stokes also conformed that the on-demand “Keoride”, operating between Palm Beach and North Narrabeen, would be made permanent under the new operators.
Keolis Downer (Northern Beaches) managing director, Mark Dunlop, said all State Transit bus drivers and maintenance staff have been offered a two-year job guarantee under the new operator. Nearly 900 people have accepted roles to transfer across to Keolis Downer.
‘It’s sideways’: Passion and pain at City v Country junior rugby
There were thrillers, comebacks, heartbreak and heroics as the young guns of rugby played with passion - and pain - in a memorable City v Country showdown. Stars and result wrap
AFL Sydney future watch: Meet 45 bright young male and female talents
The pathway to the top starts here. These young stars from AFL Sydney are building their reputations early, and could be future draft picks in the making. See the full list of 45 rising talents.