News

Metro Bus - Premier's Media Release

20/07/10, 7:07am

METROBUS EXPANSION ACROSS SYDNEY: EIGHT NEW ROUTES – 5,500 EXTRA SERVICES – SPACE FOR 400 000 MORE PASSENGERS

Tuesday 20 July 2010

The Metrobus network will be expanded across Sydney, with the number of routes increasing from five to 13 and the first new service starting in less than three weeks.

Eight extra Metrobus routes will be rolled out over the coming 12 months, providing 400,000 additional bus passenger spaces a week.

The expanded network will reach:

1. • Parramatta, Bankstown and Liverpool in the west;
2. • Hornsby in the north;
3. • Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills in the north west; and
4. • Hurstville and Sutherland Shire in the South.

Metrobuses run seven days a week, with a 10 minute frequency during peak periods, every 15 minutes during the weekday off-peak, and 20 minutes in the evening and on weekends.

Around 380 bus drivers will be rostered on each weekday to run services across the expanded 13 route Metrobus network by the middle of next year.

More than 4.5 million passengers caught a Metrobus since the services were introduced by the State Government in late 2008.

Premier Kristina Keneally said the expanded Metrobus network will provide high frequency, high capacity links between key employment and growth centres across Sydney.

"The big red Metobuses have been hugely popular, and will now be expanded to benefit nearly half a million extra passengers a week," Ms Keneally said.

"This new network of high frequency, high capacity buses will continue the Metrobus public transport revolution: providing 5,500 extra bus services a week by the middle of next year.

"Metrobus will be supported by bus priority measures including bus lanes and the Public Transport Information Priority System: that turns traffic lights green if a bus is running late.

"These environmentally-friendly buses not only emit less greenhouse gases into the air, but for every passenger that travels on them, that’s one less car on the road."

Metrobuses will be bolstered by the rollout of 150 new three-door bendy buses over the next 18 months – the first 33 of which have already been delivered.

The bendys are in addition to the 200 brand new rigid buses already on order, the first of 1,000 new buses to be rolled out over ten years as part of the Metropolitan Transport Plan.

Minister for Transport, John Robertson, said Metrobus 40 started service over the weekend, and the first of the new Metrobus routes will start in less than three weeks.

"The expanded Metrobus network is a mix of new routes, and upgrades of existing routes where there is demand for more frequent, higher capacity services," Mr Robertson said.

"This weekend, Metrobus 40 started service between Chatswood and Bondi Junction – the fourth of five Metrobus routes announced last year.

"The fifth route, Metrobus 50, is due to start in October.

"The first new route will be Metrobus 52, which starts on 8 August between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD along Victoria Road, providing 40,000 extra passenger spaces a week."

Metrobus 52 will benefit from:

1. • The conversion of transit lanes to bus-only lanes between Gladesville and Ryde; and
2. • The introduction of bus-only lanes through Ermington; and
3. • The Inner West Busway between Drummoyne and Rozelle.

"This will provide a big increase in bus capacity for families in Drummoyne and surrounding suburbs who head to work in the city and Parramatta each day," Mr Robertson said.

"I am particularly pleased to be able to deliver this for the Member for Drummoyne, Angela D’Amore, who has spoken to me at length about increasing bus capacity in these areas."

Member for Parramatta, Tanya Gadiel, said the new transport services will also be welcomed by families who live in and around her electorate.

"This will provide more fast, frequent and comfortable rides for commuters, and I absolutely welcome that," Ms Gadiel said.

Minister for Western Sydney, David Borger, said the expanded Metrobus network will provide important links between major residential and employment centres.

"The expanded network will provide new transport links and better links from Sutherland to Parramatta via Bankstown, Parramatta to Hornsby via the Hills District," Mr Borger said.

New Metrobus routes

There are currently four Metrobus routes on the road:

1. • M10 – between Leichhardt and Maroubra Junction
2. • M20 – between Gore Hill and Mascot
3. • M30 – between Mosman and Sydenham
4. • M40 – between Chatswood and Bondi Junction

The fifth of the already announced Metro Bus routes, M50, is due to start in October:

1. • M50 – between Drummoyne and Randwick via Sydney CBD

The expanded Metrobus network, announced today, will include:

1. • M41 – between Hurstville and Macquarie via Burwood
2. • M52 – between Parramatta and Sydney CBD via West Ryde
3. • M54 – between Parramatta and Macquarie via Epping
4. • M60 – between Parramatta and Hornsby via Baulkham Hills
5. • M61 – between Castle Hill and Sydney CBD via Baulkham Hills
6. • M90 – between Liverpool and Burwood via Bankstown
7. • M91 – between Hurstville and Parramatta via Bankstown
8. • M92 – between Sutherland and Parramatta via Bankstown