Sydney - bus

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> 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. ...

Proposed Eastern Suburbs Bus Network

>> https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/hub/media/tearout-excerpt/1822/South-East-map.pdf

[SurfRail]

I understand it will be announced today who will be taking over STA Region 8 (ie the services operated out of North Sydney, Brookvale and Mona Vale, so lower North Shore and Northern Beaches).

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1399021712365154306

[ozbob]

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE SOUTH EAST BUS CHANGES

> https://www.mysydney.nsw.gov.au/Have_Your_Say_On_The_South_East_Bus_Changes

[verbatim9]

Keolisdowner.com.au---> Keolis Downer partners with TfNSW to deliver innovative transport solutions in Sydney's Northern beaches as the future bus operator

^^Includes introducing 125 new electric buses to run on the Northern Beaches

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/AndrewConstance/status/1402380933869686786

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsSyd/status/1461601644207083524

[verbatim9]

The Driven---> NSW puts in order for another 79 electric buses from Sydney factory

The New South Wales government is to commit another $70 million to its planned transition of the state's bus fleet to zero emissions technology, with a new order for 79 new electric buses to be built by Western Sydney-based company Custom Denning.

The plan to transition NSW's 8,000-strong bus fleet was first announced in 2019, and is expected to have an increase of 5-10% on the state's electricity demand.

The fleet is operated under contract by publicly and privately owned operators under 13 contracts servicing the Sydney metropolitan area. Premier Dominic Perrottet and NSW minister for transport and veterans David Elliott this week toured Custom Denning's factory in St Mary's. The 79 new buses are intended to operate in Sydney's inner west.

[verbatim9]

Great outcome for NSW and Sydney. It seems that electric buses have proven their way as an efficient no emission transport mode.

Now for Brisbane and regional Qld to start rolling out electric buses.

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Hundreds of bus drivers on strike

Transport delays and traffic gridlock are expected across Sydney this morning as hundreds of bus drivers walk off the job.

The industrial action is part of a dispute between transport unions and the state government over pay and conditions.

Bus services will run to a reduced timetable in the inner-west, The Hills district as well as north, south and Western Sydney.

Services in the Hunter, Central Coast and Blue Mountains will also be impacted.

Transport for NSW Chief Operating Officer Howard Collins said commuters should plan ahead.

"If you've got any doubts and you don't have to travel today, I wouldn't choose today to get on a bus in one of those areas," Mr Collins said.

"Those people who are having to travel, and I recognise there are a lot of people having to get to and from work, just allow a bit of extra time so you can get to your destination safely."

All other public transport is expected to be impacted by the flow-on effects of the strike.

"The roads are obviously going to be busier, we'll see a lot more people getting to rail stations," he said.

The unions are demanding capped driving shifts, mandated breaks, violence training and pay standards.

[ozbob]

News.com.au --> Commuters warned to 'brace for chaos' amid bus war of words

... Bus services in the inner west, inner north, northern beaches and eastern suburbs are due to be impacted by the disruption. Although it's known how long these services will be impacted for, Transport NSW says services will be restored as soon as possible. ...

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Trainee bus driver slams Keolis Downer for inadequate training amid Sydney shortage

Key points:

. A new bus driver has described his first six weeks on the job as "taxing"

. He says many recruits are already leaving, a claim disputed by operator Keolis Downer

. More than 500 bus drivers are needed across Sydney, including 90 in the Northern Beaches

A new bus driver has spoken out against inadequate training as Sydney commuters endure delays and service cancellations due to a staff shortage.

Daniel, whose name has been changed for privacy, said he started six weeks ago and did his training with five other new recruits.

The 51-year-old had responded to Northern Beaches bus operator Kelios Downer's recruitment drive earlier this month.

"What we were told in training is not what's happening in the field," Daniel told ABC Radio Sydney.

In a job advertisement on its website, Keolis Downer said recruits would be offered a $2,000 sign-on bonus and a full-time average salary of $70,000 to $90,000.

"The pay is actually $50,000 a year," Daniel said. ...

[RowBro]

https://twitter.com/ChrisMinnsMP/status/1646425992947179520

[#Metro]

Success or failure depends on the contract structure and terms. This the government controls.

Bringing buses back into STA means the contract will automatically be signed no matter what the bus performance is, thereby decoupling contract renewal from performance.

You cannot penalise a public operator for poor performance because it amounts to the government fining itself.

You cannot remove the contract for poor performance either because who will you give it to - a private operator? He has pledged against that.

This is a similar issue to bus operators in SEQ, public and private who enjoy implied automatic renewal.

[ozbob]

https://x.com/ChrisMinnsMP/status/1705046786669158802?s=20

[SurfRail]

Already exists...

[ozbob]

Already exists...

Yep.  Been interesting watching the pile on at the NSW Premier 

[ozbob]

https://x.com/7NewsSydney/status/1717098490742874432?s=20

[ozbob]

Bus Industry Taskforce launches white paper for better bus services

https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/bus-industry-taskforce-white-paper

[#Metro]

Good document this.

[ozbob]

A new direction for on-street transit

https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/on-street-transit

Help us deliver a more reliable, frequent and easy-to-use bus and light rail network across the Six Cities.

The Six Cities region, comprising the three cities of Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Lower Hunter/ Greater Newcastle and Illawarra-Shoalhaven, is growing rapidly.

More than 97% of the population of the Six Cities regions live within 800 metres of a bus stop. Light rail services are playing an increasingly important role across Greater Sydney and Newcastle. Overall, on-street transit is our second largest transport mode and accounts for over 240 million trips annually across NSW.

Everyone deserves quality public transport, no matter where in the Six Cities they live and work. Reliable, efficient public transport is essential for an equitable society and a strong economy. With shorter implementation timeframes, on-street transit is a critical part of an agile and responsive transport network which grows as our cities grow. It can also stimulate residential development and help address the housing crisis.

Tell us what you think

We want your feedback to help us understand the challenges faced by industry, business and passenger stakeholders in our on-street transit network and how the NSW Government can help. What you tell us will help formulate a long-term strategy for on-street transit across the Six Cities.

The On Street Transit White Paper sets out key proposals to improve our bus and light rail network. Download the White Paper or the One Page summary and contribute to the discussion.

[#Metro]

NSW State Transit, a public bus operator, has been dissolved. 

You cannot view this attachment.
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/state-transit

[ozbob]

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1760305411960557868?s=20

[ozbob]

https://x.com/GuardianAus/status/1760506588291592652?s=20

[ozbob]

Damning report urges $11 billion spend on Sydney's bus services | 7 News Australia

[ozbob]

https://x.com/ABCmag/status/1782935661194129808

[ozbob]

Daily Telegraph --> NSW Bus Industry Taskforce finds system 'neglected,' underfunded' $

A special taskforce has found NSW's bus system to be "neglected, underfunded and largely misunderstood" while cautioning for more safety initiatives like training for bus drivers and background checks on a driver's safety history during the hiring process.

Among the 10 key findings and 19 recommendations in NSW Bus Industry Taskforce chair John Lee's final report is a judgment that "safety systems have not been closely monitored or enhanced to reflect the needs of a changing industry". ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1830619423591264591

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> The Sydney transport solution that would cost a quarter of a new metro line $

Delivering a more extensive bus network with rapid services in Sydney would cost a quarter of a new metro rail line, says the head of a taskforce who is calling on bipartisan support for plans to revitalise the poor cousin of public transport.

Releasing a final report on Monday, Bus Industry Taskforce chair John Lee described buses as the "heavy lifter of mass transit" and said there had been a failure in the past decade by the previous government to invest in the system.  ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1830621941868204377

[ozbob]

https://youtu.be/ridXLzEa3AE?si=PyX6a9iT25fg2vBL