‘Bendy’ articulated buses are returning to ease commuter frustrations on troubled Beaches’ bus routes

Good news for frustrated commuters on the northern beaches with ‘bendy’ buses making a comeback to help ease waiting times and reduce cancelled services

Six repaired ‘bendy’ buses are about to return to routes on the northern beaches. Picture: Martin Lange

“Bendy” buses are making a comeback to help ease commuter frustrations on the northern beaches and north shore.

Six of the articulated vehicles are returning to local routes this month after 83 were withdrawn from service across the city in October due to safety concerns.

Transport authorities pulled the popular buses off the road — they can carry up to 110 passengers each — for emergency repairs after cracking was discovered in the joins between their dual-carriages.

About half of the 83 articulated buses were used on the northern beaches and north shore, known as Region 8.

But their withdrawal led to a 30 per cent drop in passenger carrying capacity across northern routes, forcing rush-hour commuters into longer queues after regular buses took over the duties of the “bendys’.

The articulated buses were withdrawn from service in October last year after cracks were discovered in their chassis. Picture: Martin Lange

Problems for travellers were also worsened by the current bus driver shortage and mechanical issues saw some cuts to B-line and other express services.

In late February, five northern Sydney state MPs met with Transport Minister John Graham, urging him to work on plans to repair bendy buses, add more vehicles to the fleet and fix the driver shortage issue.

The bendy buses would also be returning to the eastern suburbs and on busy routes to Lane Cove, Macquarie Park, Parramatta and along Victoria Rd over the course of 2025. Picture: Ross Schultz

Last month Mr Graham announced that 50 new diesel-powered articulated buses and 10 new double decker buses would be rolled out towards the end of 2025.

The first six bendys are being repaired at a workshop in Smithfield, with modifications being made to take pressure off the articulated joins.

Mr Graham said those six buses would return to service this month, with the majority of the remaining articulated buses to re-enter service over the remainder of 2025.

Repaired buses would also be returning to the eastern suburbs and on busy routes to Lane Cove, Macquarie Park, Parramatta and along Victoria Rd over the course of the year.

The return of the buses should ease lengthy queues on the northern beaches and north shore. Picture: Brendan Read

At the same time, the Government is introducing 15 new battery-operated electric buses to the South West Link which would free up more buses to relieve areas where shortages have been the most acute, including the northern beaches.

“I acknowledge the loss of Sydney’s bendy buses has been a headache for passengers in areas like the northern beaches and want to thank them for their patience as we make these repairs,” Mr Graham said.

“Seeing the first buses ready to hit the road again is a welcome start. The repair program will return the majority of all those 83 bendys back to service over the months ahead.”

Originally published as ‘Bendy’ articulated buses are returning to ease commuter frustrations on troubled Beaches’ bus routes