State Growth issues list of bus services still running as Metro drivers prepare to strike

The Department of State Growth has reminded bus commuters to plan their travel as industrial action by Metro drivers looms.

Bus traffic in Elizabeth Street in Hobart. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

THE Department of State Growth has reminded bus commuters to plan their travel on Thursday as industrial action by Metro drivers looms.

Metro Tasmania is warning of disruptions to bus services across Hobart as drivers take industrial action over a pay dispute, with more than 500 bus services to be affected from 10am to 2pm.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union says school services will not be affected by Thursday’s bus driver industrial action, with a stopwork meeting to be held at the Springfield bus depot.

RTBU Tasmanian secretary Jody Nichols said the action had been timed to minimise the disruption to the public.

He said it should not affect schoolchildren or the morning and afternoon peaks.

Mr Nichols said 92 per cent of bus drivers voted against the proposed Enterprise Agreement in a ballot last week.

“Metro has offered a meagre 2 per cent pay rise, at a time when inflation in Hobart is running at 3 per cent,” he said.

“In other words, drivers have been asked to cop a 1 per cent pay cut in real terms.

“Bus drivers are absolutely determined to get a fair and reasonable deal on their pay and conditions.

Metro CEO Megan Morse has said the action will disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Tasmanians and create significant local traffic issues.

“We hope passengers can travel outside this period and urge intending passengers to check their service availability at metrotas.com.au before travelling on Thursday,” Ms Morse said on Tuesday.

METRO WARNS OF DISRUPTION TO BUS SERVICES ACROSS HOBART

State Growth says services delivered by other providers, however, will still be operating.

Tassielink services will run as scheduled with:

Huon Valley services, including stops at Kingston and Kingston Central;

East Coast services, including a stop at Rosny Park Interchange;

Tasman Peninsula morning and afternoon services, including a stop at Rosny Park Interchange; and

Campania/Richmond services, including stops at Rosny Park Interchange, Cambridge, and Mornington.

Redline Dodges Ferry, Carlton, and Sorell services will run as scheduled, including stops at Rosny Park Interchange and Mornington

O’Driscoll’s Derwent Valley Link New Norfolk services will operate with some changes to allow passengers to connect to the centre of Hobart:
Route 20 services departing New Norfolk between 9.20am and 1.05pm will operate as Route X22 and continue from Glenorchy to Hobart via the Brooker Highway.

Route 720 services from Glenorchy between 10.25am and 2.15pm will commence from Stop F in the Hobart Elizabeth St Bus Mall 20 minutes prior to the departure from Glenorchy as Route X22.

Details of the affected services can be viewed at metrotas.com.au.

For Redline, Tassielink, and O’Driscoll schedules, visit the State Growth website.

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