Revealed: Bus company wins $73m contract for rail line closure replacement services as ‘e-scooter trial’ planned for commuters

The huge cost of running bus replacement services during the shutdown of one of Sydney’s busiest rail lines has been revealed as transport officials investigate allowing ‘e-scooters’ along the route.

Train commuters will be ferried on to buses during the pending closure of the Sydenham to Bankstown line.

The eye-watering cost of running bus replacement services during the pending shutdown of one of Sydney’s busiest rail lines has been revealed as transport officials investigate allowing ‘e-scooters’ along the transport route to help impacted commuters get from A to B.

Tender documents have revealed private bus operator Transit Systems has been awarded a $73.2 million contract by the NSW Government to run rail replacement bus services during the upcoming year-long closure of the T3 Bankstown between Sydenham to Bankstown

More than 60,000 train commuters who use the line each day are expected to be forced on to buses as the current heavy rail Bankstown line is converted to new Sydney Metro standards.

The conversion of the 13k stretch of rail line is expected to commence in July and will take approximately 12-14 months to complete.

As well as impacting commuters, the closure is expected to place further pressure on a struggling bus system which is already grasped with a citywide shortage of drivers.

The rail line carries more than 1 million passengers each year.

Transport for NSW is now even considering relaxing rules for ‘e-scooters’ as it investigates alternative transport solutions for commuters impacted during the rail line conversion period.

The department has written to Inner West Council seeking its support to establish an e-scooter route along the path of the rail line in a move aimed at “encouraging a mix of travel solutions” and “managing demand”.

Transport bosses are considering an e-scooter trail to assist impacted commuters.

It is understood the e-scooters would be run by a commercial operator selected by Transport for NSW on dedicated e-scooter routes set up along the rail line.

Inner West councillors, at a meeting last week, deferred a decision on the e-scooter trail in response to a council report that flagged various concerns with the trail including safety risks.

The awarding of the contract comes after The Rail Tram and Bus Union called on Transport for NSW for details on how it plans to source drivers for the replacement bus services.

The line is expected to close for between 12-14 months.

The union’s tram and bus divisional secretary, David Babineau said bus drivers could also be hauled off their regular routes to get the interim bus service up and running.

Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Howard Collins, however, has expressed “confidence” the state will have enough bus drivers for the extra services needed.

Transport for NSW in a statement said as part of the tender process, the department sought certainty from operators as to how they can source bus drivers without adversely impacting regular route services.

The department estimates a fleet of around 100 buses will be needed to service passengers and approximately 200 drivers.

Transit Systems – which currently holds contracts to run services on other Sydney bus networks including the inner west – said it was actively recruiting drivers.

“Ride share drivers and semi retired applicants are telling us they are looking for more financial security and in a cost of living crisis, we have developed positions that will enable people to add full-time, part-time and casual shifts to bolster their income,” a spokeswoman said.

Transit Systems has been awarded the contract to run replacement transport services.

The T3 Bankstown Line is one of the busiest in the country, with more than 1.6 million trips taken on that rail in February alone.

Once complete, the Metro service on the Sydenham-Bankstown line will connect to the northwest Metro line and will operate with driverless trains.

Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray recognised the closure of the rail line would be “a very difficult and disruptive time for the community”.

“It’s going to be a tough 12 months for passengers. The good news is that once this work is done, passengers in the southwest will have access to a train that comes every four minutes, along with fully accessible stations and services,” he said.