Article: NSW govt prefers co-ordinated timetables

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NSW govt prefers co-ordinated timetables

NSW govt prefers co-ordinated timetables
Updated: 10:27, Tuesday July 19, 2011

The NSW government will introduce co-ordinated Sydney transport timetables, rather than scrap them during peak hours, state Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian says.

A report by the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) on Monday said Sydney timetables should be scrapped and replaced by frequent peak-period bus, train and ferry services.

But Ms Berejiklian says the government is more interested in co-ordinating timetables so people can make their connections.

'For the first time in the history of our state, there's a massive timetable being put in place that means that buses, trains, and ferries will be co-ordinated,' she told Macquarie Radio on Tuesday, adding that the process to introduce the timetables had already started.

'We've never had that co-ordination before.'

Asked about scrapping timetables during peak hour in favour of frequent services, Ms Berejiklian said that wouldn't work in the current system.

'If you don't run timetables on the current network, some people at other locations miss out on getting their service,' she said.

'Regrettably, I'm still at the stage as new transport minister of getting the basics up to scratch.

'Once we have that co-ordination in place, we can look to those other proposals.'

Ms Berejiklian said a project to introduce electronic ticketing was also in place.

'We're working very hard behind the scenes, and we're hoping, on Sydney ferries at least, by next year the electronic ticketing will start to be rolled out.'