Eastern suburbs bus changes: Commuters fear privatisation

As the privatisation of eastern suburbs buses edges closer, commuters already hit hard by bus cuts – including a man with cerebral palsy forced to cut back on work – fear the worst is yet to come.

Adam North was forced to lose shifts at work when bus cuts to Sydney’s eastern suburbs left him facing unreliable services at the end of 2021.

The Museum of Contemporary Art worker with cerebral palsy is one of many residents dreading privatisation of the area’s buses from April 3, while Transport for NSW argues the move will deliver more regular services.

Adam North’s transport options have dwindled in recent years

“The cuts have already really affected me, and this could make it worse,” the South Coogee resident said.

“I used to catch the 376 bus straight home from Circular Quay and now the bus only goes to Central, and after 7:30pm it’s once every half an hour. But sometimes it’s delayed and comes once an hour, so I don’t really do night shifts anymore.”

Mr North said now the bus route stopped at Randwick instead of Circular Quay his only option was to walk 20 minutes to the light rail stop – which was difficult with his condition – or catch a bus and two trains.

Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill and Randwick City Council had strenuously opposed the privatisation of the remaining eastern suburbs buses for years, to no avail.

In a last-ditch effort, Ms O’Neill secured an Upper House inquiry into the impact of the privatisation of NSW buses and the cuts to services in recent years.

Some residents have to catch several buses and a train via Bondi Junction to get from the southeast to the city. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“We are vehemently opposed to the privatisation of bus services,” Ms O’Neill said.

“We know that when it happened in the Inner West, running times got worse and community experience was worse. We also don’t know if further bus routes are on the chopping block.”

According to Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker, the “universal experience of privatisation is that commuters lose out”.

“The experiences all across Sydney has been that private operators skimp on stops, remove bus stops and reduce services in order to meet their target,” he said.

Rachelle Bakhos, 27, catches the 333 bus from Bondi, which is one of the slowest routes in Sydney. Picture: David Swift

Last May, the NSW Government announced 25 bus routes from the eastern suburbs would be cancelled, adding to six routes previously cut.

While the light rail became a viable alternative for people on the main route, Mr Parker said it hurt residents living further back, becoming “more of a white elephant than a silver bullet”.

“Some people need to take multiple modes of transport just to get there, and with prices going up on absolutely everything, having to pay extra fares when they change is another slug and they can’t do it,” he said.

Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill says privatisation has been seen to negatively impact wait times. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“For three years our community has been crying out to save our buses. They were ignored. Hopefully this inquiry gets the government to pay some attention.”

A Transport for NSW spokesman said changes were made to south east bus services in December 2021, following consultation and data analysis.

He said Transdev John Holland’s takeover of bus services in Sydney’s east, southeast and CBD would deliver extra and more frequent regular services, saving taxpayers $200 million in the process.

“The new services will include 11 All-Day Frequent Network (ADFN) bus routes operating every 10 minutes or better during the day, seven days a week,” he said.

“The 373 between Coogee, Randwick and the CBD will continue to operate following feedback from locals.”

Transport for NSW rejects claims privatisation will make things worse. Picture: Mark Evans

“Timetables and networks will continue to be controlled by Transport for NSW, with any improvements made in response to changes in customer demand.”

Ms O’Neill said while the state government had vowed to keep the 373 route, it was still missing two vital stops which connected residents to get to The Eye Clinic in Randwick.

That includes 83-year-old Coogee resident Maureen Ryan, who said her route to her eye doctor had become more challenging.

“Also, if I wanted to go to Circular Quay or Manly, I have to get a bus up to Randwick and then get the light rail, so it impacts fares and it’s a little slower,” she said.

Transdev New Holland was contacted for comment but did not respond before publication.