Free bus trips ‘doomed to failure’ amid cancellations, drivers say

Metro Tasmania has pleaded with travellers to treat their drivers with respect after over 100 free services were cancelled today. CANCELLATIONS + HAVE YOUR SAY >>

Chelsea Cosgrave, Kenji Sato and Damita Lamont

9 min read

March 31, 2022 - 10:59AM

Hobart & South

Don't miss out on the headlines from Hobart & South. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Metro Tasmania has pleaded with travellers to treat their drivers with respect after 111 services were cancelled for Thursday in Hobart and Launceston.

The company took to their Facebook page to update locals on the disruptions, taking the chance to apologise to travellers for the cancellations just four days into the state government’s five week free public transport trial.

“We’re terribly sorry for all the disruptions to our services this week and are working very hard to make sure this doesn’t continue.” read one of their Facebook posts.

“Our Bus Operators and Customer Service staff are working just as hard to assist you, so please be kind to them.”

Free Bus

“While our services are free for five weeks, it never costs anything to be polite.”

The post garnered mixed responses from travellers, some appaluded the staff’s effort during the difficult circumstances while others expressed their frustration.

“Respect those that are driving... really disruptive though when I’m trying to get my son to school” commented Nicole Grimmond.

“Maybe put a hold on the free bus trips until you guys can treat your drivers with a bit more respect and care.” said Natalie Oakley.

Trips cancelled for Thursday, March 31

Hobart

Route 552 IN From Lenah Valley @ 06:56
Route 601 IN From Shoreline @ 07:15
Route 540 IN From Mt. Stuart @ 07:15
Route 551 IN From Lenah Valley @07:20
Route 501 IN From Glenorchy @07:22
Route 601 OUT From UTAS @ 08:06
Route x07 IN from Blackmans Bay @ 08:10
Route 503 IN From Tolosa Park @ 08:16
Route 501 OUT From UTAS @ 08:20
Route 415 OUT From Hobart City @ 08:35
Route 458 IN From Mt. Nelson @ 09:16
Route 415 IN From Woodbridge @ 09:47
Route 553 OUT From Hobart City @ 09:49
Route 550 Glenorchy to Hobart @ 0611
Route 615 Tranmere to Hobart @ 0628
Route 624 Tollard drive to Hobart @ 0634
Route 685 Walana st to Hobart @ 0630
Route 520 Bridgewater to Hobart @ 0643
Route 413 Hobart to Snug @ 0648
Route 520 Hobart to Bridgewater @ 0649
Route 501 Glenorchy to Uni @ 0650
Route 695 Risdon Vale to Hobart @ 0659
Route 401 Hobart to LWR Sandy Bay @ 0703
Route X44 Opossum Bay to Hobart @ 0709
Route 684 Walana st to Rosny @ 0710
Route 501 Uni to Glenorchy @ 0727
Route 402 LWR Sandy Bay to Hobart @ 0723
Route 500 Blackmans Bay to Glenorchy @ 0723
Route 500 Blackmans Bay to Glenorchy @ 0707
Route X07 Blackmans Bay to Hobart @ 0710
Route 510 Austin’s Ferry to Hobart @ 0706
Route 413 Snug to Hobart @ 0736
Route 615 Hobart to Tranmere @ 0739
Route 530 Bridgewater to Hobart @ 0755
Route 552 Lenah Valley to Hobart @ 0756
Route X15 Tranmere to Hobart @ 0758
Route 407 Blackmans Bay to Hobart @ 0805
Route 655 Mornington to Hobart @ 0810
Route 615 Tranmere to Hobart @ 0808
Route X15 Tranmere to Hobart @ 0815
Route 615 Hobart to Tranmere @ 0827
Route X20 Bridgewater to Hobart @ 0839
Route 513 Kanella to Hobart @ 0851
Route 615 Tranmere to Hobart @ 0858

Launceston

R116 Out @ 0639 from Mowbray
R117 In @ 0651 from Alanvale
R145 Out @0646 from Wellington St
R140 In @0702 From Youngtown
R142 In @ 0712 from Punchbowl
R145 Out @ 0714 from City
R142 Out @0724 from City
R115 Out @ 0728 from City
R146 In @ 0730 from Woolven St
R140 In @ 0733 from Youngtown
R141 In @ 0736 from Punchbowl
R115 In @ 0737 From Rocherlea
R115 Out @0748 from City
R115 In @ 0752 From Rocherlea
R120 Out @ 0756 from City
R150 Out @ 0802 From City
R120 In @ 0804 from Ravenswood
R140 Out @ 0811 from City
R115 In @ 0812 from Rocherlea
R150 In @ 0813 from West Riverside
R150 Out @ 0827 from City
R120 Out @ 0845 from City
R160 Out @ 0829 from City
R145 In @ 0830 from Youngtown
R150 In @ 0838 from West Riverside
R120 In @ 0853 from Ravenswood
R140 Out @ 0840 from City
R160 In @ 0850 from Casino
R145 In @0859 From Youngtown
R141 Out @ 0900 from City
R122 Out @ 0908 From St Leonards to Mowbray
R142 In @ 0909 from Punchbowl
R152 In @ 0942 from Coulter St Trevallyn
R147 In @ 0955 – From Normanstone Rd
R147 Out @ 1020 – From City.
R147 In @ 1055 – From Normanstone Rd.
R147 Out @ 1120 – From City.
R120 Out @ 1130 from City
R151 Out @ 1134 from City
R120 In @ 1138 from Ravenswood
R151 In @ 1150 from West Riverside
R147 In @ 1155 – From Normanstone Rd.
R140 Out @ 1210 from City
R165 Out @ 1215 from City
R147 Out @ 1220 – From City.
R145 In @ 1229 from Youngtown
R165 In @ 1243 from Prospect Market Place
R147 In @ 1255 – From Normanstone Rd.
R141 Out @ 1300 from City
R142 In @ 1309 from Punchbowl
R165 Out @ 1315 from City
R147 Out @ 1320 – From City.
R116 Out @ 1328 from City
R165 In @ 1343 from Prospect Market Place
R147 In @ 1345 – From Normanstone Rd.
R117 In @ 1352 from Alanvale
R130 Out @ 1415 from City
R120 In @ 1423 from Ravenswood
R162 Out @ 1439 from City
R130 In @ 1440 from St Leonards
R110 In @ 1451 from Kingsmeadows
R162 In @ 1508 from Hadspen
R120 Out @ 1515 from City
R110 In @ 1540 from UTAS
R110 In @ 1621 from Kingsmeadows
R110 In @ 1710 from UTAS
R165 out @ 1914 from City to Prospect

‘Short-term sugar hit’: 70% increase in bus cancellations

The list of cancelled bus trips continues to grow ever longer, with Metro announcing about a 70 per cent increase in dropped trips since yesterday.

Metro has announced 70 dropped trips in Launceston, 41 ingoing and 29 outgoing, as well as 9 entire Hobart routes for Wednesday.

By contrast, Tuesday saw 42 dropped trips in Launceston, 24 ingoing and 18 outgoing, as well as 5 entire Hobart routes.

If more trips are dropped on Wednesday, Metro will add them to their list on their Facebook page.

A Metro spokesman said they were dealing with an “unprecedented” number of driver/operator absences due to Covid-19 and other illnesses.

Yesterday, in Hobart, 23 drivers were unavailable to work (14 because of Covid 19 and nine because of other illness) while in Launceston the number of absent drivers is six (two because of Covid 19 and four who are unvaccinated),” the spokesman said.

Free Bus

“Today, in Hobart, 23 drivers are unavailable to work (15 because of Covid 19 and eight because of other illness) while in Launceston the number of absent drivers is eight (one because of Covid 19, three because of general illness and four who are unvaccinated).”

As of Monday Tasmania’s bus system became free for five weeks as part of a government-funded initiative to ease the cost of living.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Tasmanian Secretary Ric Bean said there wasn’t much point to a free bus service if it didn’t turn up.

“The chronic shortage of bus drivers is putting extreme pressure on services and leading to increased cancellations across the Metro network.

“The people of Tasmania deserve access to reliable, frequent and safe public transport.

“But instead of dealing with the underlying problems that are plaguing the public transport system, the State Government is opting for a short-term sugar hit of free public transport.

Trips cancelled for Wednesday, March 30

Hobart

Route X11 Claremont to Hobart @0640
Route X13 Snug to Hobart @0700
Route X44 Opossum Bay to Hobart @0709
Route X07 Blackmans Bay to Hobart @0710
Route 684 Rosny Park to Walana st @0734
Route X20 Bridgewater to Hobart @0742
Route 695 Risdon Vale to Hobart @0749
Route 685 Walana st to Hobart @0800
Route 655 Mornington to Hobart @0810

Launceston

R116 Out @ 0639 from Mowbray
R145 Out @0646 from Wellington St
R117 In @ 0651 from Alanvale
R140 In @0702 From Youngtown
R145 Out @ 0714 from City
R142 Out @0724 from City
R146 In @ 0730 from Woolven St
R140 In @ 0733 from Youngtown
R141 In @ 0736 from Punchbowl
R115 In @ 0737 From Rocherlea
R115 Out @0748 from City
R120 Out @ 0756 from City
R150 Out @ 0802 From City
R120 In @ 0804 from Ravenswood
R140 Out @ 0811 from City
R115 In @ 0812 from Rocherlea
R150 In @ 0813 from West Riverside
R160 Out @ 0829 from City
R145 In @ 0830 from Youngtown
R140 Out @ 0840 from City
R120 Out @ 0845 from City
R160 In @ 0850 from Casino
R120 In @ 0853 from Ravenswood
R145 In @0859 From Youngtown
R141 Out @ 0900 from City
R142 In @ 0909 from Punchbowl
R152 In @ 0942 from Coulter St Trevallyn
R147 In @ 0955 – From Normanstone Rd
R147 Out @ 1020 – From City
R147 In @ 1055 – From Normanstone Rd.
R147 Out @ 1120 – From City
R120 Out @ 1130 from City
R151 Out @ 1134 from City
R110 IN @ 1138 from UTAS
R120 In @ 1138 from Ravenswood
R151 In @ 1150 from West Riverside
R147 In @ 1155 – From Normanstone Rd.
R140 Out @ 1210 from City
R165 Out @ 1215 from City
R147 Out @ 1220 – From City
R110 In @ 1222 - From Kings Meadows
R145 In @ 1229 from Youngtown
R165 In @ 1243 from Prospect Market Place
R147 In @ 1255 From Normanstone Rd
R141 Out @ 1300 from City
R110 In @ 1308 from UTAS
R142 In @ 1309 from Punchbowl
R165 Out @ 1315 from City
R147 Out @ 1320 – From City
R116 Out @ 1328 from City
R165 In @ 1343 from Prospect Market Place
R147 In @ 1345 – From Normanstone Rd
R110 In @ 1352 from Kings Meadows
R117 In @ 1352 from Alanvale
R130 Out @ 1415 from City
R110 Out @ 1420 – From City
R120 In @ 1423 from Ravenswood
R110 Y in @ 1426 from UTAS
R110 In @ 1438 – From UTAS
R162 Out @ 1439 from City
R130 In @ 1440 from St Leonards
R110 In @ 1451 from Kings Meadows
R117 Out @ 1458 From City
R162 In @ 1508 from Hadspen
R145 From City to Youngtown @ 1509
R120 Out @ 1515 from City
R116 In @ 1524 From Alenvale
R140 From Youngtown to City @ 1535
R110 In @ 1540 from UTAS
R167 Out @ 1550 From City
R110 In @ 1621 from Kings Meadows
R110 In @ 1710 from UTAS

‘Bit of a joke’: Dozens more bus trips cancelled as free trial kicks off

THE five-week free bus service that started on Monday was hit by 87 route cancellations in the North and South, all peak-hour travel times.

Since updates have been provided on the Metro Tasmania Facebook, announcing that an additional 47 cancellations in Launceston and Hobart were announced before 7am this morning for Tuesday services.

Travellers took to Facebook to express their anger over the late cancellations.

“Why are so many busses being cancelled? Starting to become a bit of a joke especially for the ones with kids in school who rely on these buses,” wrote Kimmy Thompson.

“Both the buses I need to get to my work the morning aren’t running...” said Kaitlyn Bumford.

It comes after a union and the Opposition raised concerns about the state government’s free bus service after dozens of trips were cancelled last Friday because of a shortage of drivers.

About 8am on Monday it was announced that five Hobart morning services were unlikely to run.

Free Bus

This included inbound services that were meant to have already started their routes at 6.40am, 7.23am and 8am; an outbound route that was meant to have begun at 7.34am and an outbound route that was meant to take off soon after the announcement at 8.12am.

“Please check back here for any more updates,” the spokesperson stated in the post.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and the entire Metro team are working their hardest to minimise any further disruptions.”

Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary Ric Bean said members were concerned about ongoing driver shortages.

“How on earth is Metro going to manage any sort of sizeable increase in passengers numbers when they can’t even get the buses on the road now,’’ Mr Bean said over the weekend.

Metro chief executive Katie Cooper many drivers were off because of Covid and other illnesses but more workers were being recruited.

She said seven new drivers were due to start on Monday and three more on April 4. An additional 43 drivers were also scheduled to start training over the next two weeks.

Trips cancelled for Tuesday, March 29

Hobart

Route 562 from Hobart 7:08
Route 560 from Glenorchy 7:45
Route 446 from Hobart 08:38
Route 501 from UTAS 08:55 and
Route 446 from Marlyn Rd 09:00

Launceston

R116 Out @ 0639 from Mowbray
R145 Out @0646 from Wellington St
R117 In @ 0651 from Alanvale
R140 In @0702 From Youngtown
R142 In @ 0712 from Punchbowl
R145 Out @ 0714 from City
R142 Out @0724 from City
R115 Out @ 0728 from City
R146 In @ 0730 from Woolven St
R140 In @ 0733 from Youngtown
R141 In @ 0736 from Punchbowl
R115 In @ 0737 From Rocherlea
R115 Out @0748 from City
R115 In @ 0752 From Rocherlea
R120 Out @ 0756 from City
R150 Out @ 0802 From City
R120 In @ 0804 from Ravenswood
R140 Out @ 0811 from City
R115 In @ 0812 from Rocherlea
R150 In @ 0813 from West Riverside
R150 Out @ 0827 from City
R160 Out @ 0829 from City
R145 In @ 0830 from Youngtown
R150 In @ 0838 from West Riverside
R140 Out @ 0840 from City
R120 Out @ 0845 from City
R160 In @ 0850 from Casino
R120 In @ 0853 from Ravenswood
R145 In @0859 From Youngtown
R141 Out @ 0900 from City
R122 Out @ 0908 From St Leonards to Mowbray
R142 In @ 0909 from Punchbowl
R152 In @ 0942 from Coulter St Trevallyn
R147 In @ 0955 – From Normanstone Rd
R147 Out @ 1020 – From City
R147 In @ 1055 – From Normanstone Rd
R147 Out @ 1120 – From City
R151 In @ 1150 from West Riverside
R151 Out @ 1134 from City
R120 In @ 1138 from Ravenswood
R151 In @ 1150 from West Riverside
R147 In @ 1155 – From Normanstone Rd

Free bus trips at risk amid cancellations, drivers claim

METRO drivers have raised concerns about Tasmania’s five-week free bus service after dozens of trips were cancelled on Friday amid a shortage of staff.

In Hobart, 58 outbound and 40 inbound trips were dropped on Friday, just three days before the free bus trips kick in on Monday.

Metro CEO Katie Cooper said cases of Covid and other sickness absences, coupled with a general driver shortage, led to the trips being cancelled on Friday.

“Metro has been working on the driver shortage issue for some time,’’ she said.

“As a result, seven new drivers start work this Monday and three more drivers on April 4.

An additional 23 drivers will commence training on Monday and a further 20 drivers on 4.”

Friday’s cancellatons shocked local mum Jennifer, who has two children who regularly catch the bus to Taroona High School.

Jennifer had to drive her son to school on Friday and saw massive traffic jams up the Southern Outlet all the way towards Davey St.

She said many of the cars were undoubtedly other parents dropping their kids off to Taroona High because of bus cancellations.

“I place the blame squarely on the government, not poor old Metro,” Jennifer said.

“I think State Growth ought to give Metro more money for more buses, more drivers, and more spaces to park at night.”

RBTU state secretary Ric Bean. Picture: Kenji Sato

Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary Ric Bean said all the cancellations were a worrying sign, especially on the eve of the free bus program.

Mr Bean said passenger numbers would undoubtedly skyrocket, even though bus drivers could barely handle the current levels of demand.

“How on earth is Metro going to manage any sort of sizable increase in passenger numbers when they can’t even get the buses on the road now?” he said.

“We’re concerned about the ongoing shortage of drivers, run cancellations, and how this is going to affect the riding public.”

Labor’s transport spokesperson Josh Willie blamed Premier Peter Gutwein for the shortage of bus drivers.

Mr Willie said the free bus services were a good idea, but that Metro lacked the basic resources to pull it off.

“Free buses start on Monday, which is all very well if they turn up,” Mr Willie said.

“Metro’s been plagued by cancelled services. The key to increasing public transport usage is a reliable service, which the Gutwein government can’t deliver.”

Minister Michael Ferguson. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said Metro was recruiting drivers.

“This simply proves that whingeing Josh Willie will always find a way to talk Tasmania down,’’ he said.

“Our five-week free bus travel initiative will ease cost of living pressures for Tasmanian households and encourage more commuters to switch from private car travel to public transport.”

kenji.sato@news.com.au