Raft of bus route changes in Sydney’s east and southeast

A raft of bus service changes have been announced including the introduction of two timetable-less buses. See the full list of changes and see how it will impact on you

Numerous services to and from Botany are being changed. Picture: Craig Wilson

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A raft of bus service changes have been announced including the introduction of two timetable-less buses.

A new 24-hour-a-day route, the 304, will run between Rosebery and Circular Quay. It will run every 12 minutes or better during the day.

The existing 309 route will also run as a turn-up-and-go service, running every 12 minutes or better between Banksmeadow and Railway Square.

There are a number of other changes, including to the 305 which will now operate between Redfern Station and Mascot only.

The changes have come under fire from Opposition Leader and Maroubra state Labor MP Michael Daley who said the local community had not been consulted.

“Locals don’t have a heavy rail or a light rail, all we have are our buses. Just like their disastrous forced council amalgamation the Government has decided it knows best and didn’t ask a single resident for their views.

Bus passengers at Green Square. The changes are largely to accommodate Green Square passengers. (Photo by Phil Rogers)

“Our community deserves better than this shameful treatment.”

The changes are part of the Green Square and Waterloo Transport Action Plan which aims to improve links to the city for the fast growing area.

Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Marg Prendergast said the changes would create capacity for more than 20,000 additional passengers in the areas.

“For example, enhancement of the 343 service from Kingsford to Chatswood, via Green Square and Waterloo, will give 18 per cent more capacity between 7am-8am and 16 per cent more capacity between 8am-9am.

“As new offices open in Australian Technology Park workers will benefit from these improvements with routes 301, 302 and 303 now terminating at Redfern Station near ATP and routes 305, 308, 309, 309X and 310X also getting workers in and out of ATP.

New South Wales Opposition Leader Michael Daley said the public has not been consulted. . (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

“The changes build on other recent rail improvements such as doubling the number of weekend daytime services and increased late night weekday services at Green Square, Mascot and Sydney Airport stations last year.”

The timetable-less routes are a fairly new concept and are being trialled on busy city routes.

They were introduced in Bondi earlier this year and State Transit has reported they have been a huge success.

State Transit CEO Steffen Faurby said: “Turn-up-and-go buses provide a more efficient service; you only have to look at the success of the B-Line and Bondi Link to know customers love high-frequency buses. We will continue to look at ways to improve bus services along the Botany Road corridor to support the needs of a growing community.”

The changes come into force on December 2 and there has been criticism of both the lack of consultation and warning of the changes.

NSW State transit CEO Steffen Faurby said the timetable-less buses have been a great success. Adam Yip/ Manly Daily

“Commuters deserve far better than just a few days notice of these huge changes to bus routes,” Heffron state Labor MP Ron Hoenig said.

“I just hope that the Transport Minister’s new bus timetable doesn’t end up like his train timetable, which has been an absolute shambles.”

Bus user Davina Murray, of Banksia St, Botany, said she was furious at the lack of notice.

“If you don’t live on Botany Road it is going to be a nightmare. We’re only 12km from the city but some people will have to get three buses to get there.

“There has been no consultation, no notice, nothing.”

THE CHANGES IN FULL

NEW ROUTES

304: Will connect Rosebery and Circular Quay via Zetland, Waterloo and Surry Hills. Serves East Village Shopping Centre for the first time.

307: Will connect Port Botany and Mascot Station via Matraville, Eastgardens, Pagewood, Botany and Mascot shops. Provides local coverage and connections to buses at Eastgardens, Botany and Mascot and trains at Mascot station. Replaces route 309 and 310 in the Port Botany, Matraville and Eastgardens areas.

309X: Will operate between Railway Square and Port Botany via Redfern, Green Square station and Botany Road. Running every 10 minutes during the morning and afternoon peaks. Will replace existing L09.

310X: Will operate between Banksmeadow and Railway Square via Botany, Mascot, and Green Square station. Running every 10 minutes during the morning and afternoon peaks. Combined with route 309, this will result in buses every five minutes between Botany Shops and Green Square station during peak periods. Replaces existing X09 and X10 services.

400N: Will operate overnight services between 12am-5am and will operate an all-stops service between Eastgardens and Bondi Junction.

CHANGED ROUTES

301, 302 and 303: Will be changed to operate to and from Redfern Station, providing new links to the rail network. Route 304 will provide services between Rosebery, Waterloo and the City.

305: Will be changed to operate between Redfern Station and Mascot only, with service frequency adjusted to every 30 minutes.

308: Will be changed to operate between Marrickville Metro and Central Station full time. Weekday morning and afternoon peak hour services currently terminating at or commencing from Redfern Station will be extended to Central Station via Redfern and Chalmers/Elizabeth streets.

309: Will be changed to operate between Banksmeadow and Railway Square, and will have higher capacity on selected trips. Running every 12 minutes or better during the day, seven days a week, with services around every 10 minutes during morning and afternoon peak times on weekdays, and every 15 minutes during evenings (30 mins late night).

343: Will have additional services across the week, including higher capacity with proposed increase of 18 per cent more capacity between 7am-8am and 16% capacity between 8am-9am.