Gladys Berejiklian med rel: NSW Government introduces almost 8,000 extra weekly public transport services

Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian today announced the NSW Government had introduced almost 8,000 extra weekly public transport services since March 2011, including more than 4,700 in Sydney’s west.

The extra services include hundreds of extra bus services starting in coming weeks, as the NSW Government responds to customer feedback asking for more services between major interchanges.

“At the end of this month the NSW Liberals and Nations will have introduced more than 1190 extra weekly train services, 6494 extra weekly bus services and 220 extra weekly ferry services across the state since coming to Government in March 2011,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The introduction of a new integrated public transport timetable in October last year was a major catalyst for the new services, along with reduced journey times for many customers, more regular and consistent departure times and improved connections between services.”

In Western Sydney there will be more than 3900 extra weekly bus services, 734 extra weekly train services and 84 extra weekly ferry services by the end of this month.

The extra weekly bus services to begin on April 28 include:
· 145 weekly peak services for Western Sydney on new route 835 – Prairiewood to Werrington

· 80 extra weekly services for Western Sydney on route 817 – Fairfield to Cabramatta

· 90 extra weekly peak services for the Inner West on route 461 – Burwood to city

· 117 extra weekly services for the Eastern Suburbs on route 352 – Bondi Junction to Marrickville Metro via Newtown

· 260 weekly services for the Illawarra on new route 32 – Brooks Reach to Dapto

· 60 weekly services for the Hunter on new route 166 – Kurri Kurri to Maitland

“This is fantastic news for customers right across the state who want to be able to rely on a public transport network with enough services running when and where they’re needed,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“More services means more jobs for the frontline and extra buses for customers.”

Highlights of the other new services introduced, as part of the integrated timetable in October include:
· 220 extra weekly train services on the T5 Cumberland Line, directly connecting Western Sydney centres such as Campbelltown, Liverpool, Cabramatta, Fairfield, Parramatta and Blacktown;

· 184 extra weekly train services on the T1 Western Line, including 45 in peak times, giving more opportunities for customers in Western Sydney to get to the work in the city, or connect to suburban services at other stations;

· 3917 extra weekly bus services for Western Sydney, as well as 1548 for the North Shore, 518 for Sydney’s Inner West, 315 for the Hurstville and Sutherland region, and 290 for the Illawarra;

· 145 extra weekly train services on the T2 Airport Line between airport stations and the city circle to bring the frequency of trains between the city and the airport to eight trains an hour on weekdays between 7am and 9pm;

· 128 extra weekly train services on the T1 Northern and 76 extra weekly services on the T1 North Shore lines, increasing connections between suburbs such as Hornsby, Pennant Hills, Epping, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Chatswood, St Leonards, North Sydney and the city.

· restoration of 140 off-peak lower North Shore ferry services per week which were cut by the previous government, plus the addition of 25 new weekly Parramatta River services and 55 extra services across the ferry network which were added by the new timetable in October last year

Ms Berejiklian said customers were also seeing improvements right across public transport with the rollout of the Opal card now completed on all Sydney Ferries and trains, with the rollout of Opal on buses now underway.

“We have also introduced real-time apps for public transport customers, and there are now more than 70 brand new air-conditioned Waratah trains on the tracks – all introduced since we came to Government.

“We are listening to our customers, and delivering improvements they want.”