Fears Sydney Metro northwest will cut Rouse Hill-city buses

Commuters fear bus services from Rouse Hill to the city will be slashed when the Sydney Metro northwest opens in May.

Sydney Metro CEO Jon Lamonte at the marshalling yard at Rouse Hill. Picture: Toby Zerna

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Commuters fear bus services from Rouse Hill to the city will be slashed when the Sydney Metro northwest opens in May.

Concerns were raised at a community forum hosted by Riverstone Chamber of Commerce at Riverstone Schofields Memorial Club on Monday.

President Kurt Hippe said bus services were still vital because, unlike the Rouse Hill to Chatswood train line, it provided a direct link to the city and passengers could sit down.

Sydney Metro CEO Jon Lamonte in one of the new trains. The fleet has limited seats.

“Anyone who will travel to the inner parts of Sydney will tell you they’re not going to use the Metro because it goes to Chatswood, so if you want to go somewhere like Burwood or Parramatta, there’s no point,” he said.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Premier Gladys Berejiklian inspect a new train. Picture: Monique Harmer

“I understand how this Metro works but for someone who’s not good on their feet, or elderly people, they’re not going to be able to use the Metro.”

Riverstone state Labor candidate Annemarie Christie said direct bus services to the city eliminated stress.

“We don’t want our bus services to the city cut because, at the moment the Metro goes to Chatswood,’’ she said.

Tallawong station at Rouse Hill. Picture: Monique Harmer

“You change at a busy station to the city. If you want to change the mode of public transport, it has to be more efficient and convenient than the one they’re using.”

Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly said services would be evaluated once the train line opens.

Sydney Metro northwest runs from Rouse Hill to Chatswood.

“Direct buses to the city will continue after the Metro opens,” he said.

“It is my understanding that any future adjustments to service levels on city bus routes will be informed by actual patronage levels after May.”

Each week there are an average of 2958 customers who use the Rouse Hill-Sydney CBD 607X bus service and an average of 3157 customer trips between the Sydney CBD and Rouse Hill.

On the 616X, there is an average of 1537 customer trips between Kellyville Ridge and the Sydney CBD each weekday and an average of 1275 between the Sydney CBD and Kellyville Ridge.

A Transport for NSW spokesman said changes to the bus network would progressively introduced when Sydney Metro starts.

“Staging the changes will allow us to analyse Opal data and travel patterns to ensure that we are delivering the right types of services where and when they are needed,’’ he said.

“The first stage, which is currently being finalised, will focus on making changes to local bus routes to connect customers with new Sydney Metro stations.”

He said commuters would continue to have access to city-bound bus services on the M2.

“Any changes to city bound services will not happen until we have a better understanding of customer movements,’’ he said.

“A campaign designed to make customers aware of the changes will be launched around three weeks before they are introduced.”