Dozens of Sydney bus services cut in eastern suburbs transport overhaul

More than 20 bus routes will be cut from Sydney’s eastern suburbs and another 23 “modified” as part of a planned major overhaul of the region’s transport system.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance confirmed on Thursday that 25 bus routes would be removed from the south-east Sydney region as the government looks to funnel more people onto the CBD light rail. He said there would be no job cuts.

More than 20 bus services will be cut and 23 modified under an overhaul of eastern suburbs public transport.Credit: James Alcock

As the government cuts bus services across the eastern suburbs, it will divert more towards the booming Green Square region, where patronage grew by 50 per cent between 2016 and 2019.

Asked whether eastern suburbs commuters were being punished for poor planning decisions around the Green Square region, Mr Constance acknowledged the government was having to “retrofit” the area with transport options.

“To be honest with you, I think it’s one of the worst examples in the country’s history where we’ve seen planning get ahead of mass transit solutions,” Mr Constance said.

“It’s terrible to think that we’ve seen the highest concentration of apartment dwellings with next to no foresight into what we should do for a mass transit solution.”

While dozens of services across the eastern suburbs will be impacted by the changes, Mr Constance said the capacity for the region would be boosted by 40 per cent during peak hour for commuters heading to the city.

Among the services being cut are the popular 373 from Coogee to Circular Quay and the 393 from Little Bay to Central as well as the X40, X93 and X99. Eleven new services will be created, while the government says people using the 25 services it is removing will have alternate services available.

Mr Constance said light rail services would operate every four minutes between Circular Quay and Moore Park and every eight minutes between Moore Park, Randwick and Kingsford on weekdays between 7am and 7pm.

“The L2 and L3 lines have changed the way customers travel to and from the CBD, by providing frequent turn-up-and-go services, so we need to update our bus schedules accordingly,” Mr Constance said.

The minister said decisions to cut certain routes were based on 2019 Opal data given the massive downturn in patronage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bus services cut

300, 301, 302, 309X, 310X, 314, 316, 317, 338, 353, 357, 372, 373, 376, 377, 391, 393, 394, 395, 400, 400N, L94, X40, X93, X99 

Bus services modified

303, 304, 307, 309, 313, 320, 339, 339X, 343, 347, 355, 362, 370, 373X, 374, 374X, 377X, 392, 397, 399, 418, 420, 420N

New Bus Routes

306, 310, 350, 350N, 356, 358, 373N, 375, 390X, 392N, 469

Patronage growth on Sydney’s CBD light rail has outpaced all other modes in the bounceback from COVID-19, though it is returning from a much lower base.

Commuters will be able to provide feedback to the plan before June 19, with the government aiming to implement the changes in late 2021.

The Herald last year revealed the government was considering cutting several bus routes from Sydney’s eastern suburbs to make way for the CBD light rail.

Labor member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill said the cuts were worse than expected.

“This will mean heavily used express services are permanently cut and thousands of people will face a far longer commute,” Ms O’Neill said.

“This is nothing but a desperate attempt to prop up the failing light rail by forcing commuters on to it.”

Labor member for Maroubra Michael Daley described the cuts as a “broken promise” by the government.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union division secretary David Babineau described the transport overhaul as a “betrayal of local residents”.

“At the same time, it’s a complete slap in the face to be offered their first chance to have their say while learning of the complete demolition of their bus network,” Mr Babineau said.

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