Northern Beaches Advocate: 60 new buses and repairs to older buses are promised to resolve the Northern Beaches bus crisis.
Bus services on the Northern Beaches have been under pressure for months, with long-term driver shortages and the withdrawal of the articulated ‘bendy’ buses after structural weakness and cracking was found, forcing the entire fleet off the road.
Increased patronage of the popular B-Line bus service was also seeing maintenance and reliability issues begin to arise, with the yellow bus fleet running well above the expected mileage per vehicle at this point in their planned duty cycle.
The unreliability of bus services, with cancellations and overcrowded services, has seen many people return to driving to work, or to train and metro stations to catch alternative forms of public transport. As a result, morning commutes have been extended and unreliable for many people heading into their offices.
Local MPs have been demanding action from the NSW Government, and also from bus operator Keolis Downer, who is contracted to deliver bus services to the Northern Beaches. Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby (image below, centre) recently took up the cause of commuters on the 190X service, which had been plagued with cancellations following the loss of articulated buses.
Those demands have been heard, with NSW Transport Minister John Graham announcing the 50 new articulated buses would be purchased to service the Northern Beaches, along with ten new double-decker B-Line buses.
“We know it’s been a difficult couple of months for bus passengers on the Northern Beaches who’ve been dealing with the shortage of articulated buses.
“Our drivers have been doing their best, but the fleet shortage has meant many services haven’t been up to scratch. That’s why we’re bringing in more high-capacity buses.
“As these additional high-capacity buses and repaired articulated buses enter service over the next 12 months this will mean fewer disruptions, improved reliability and bus services that better meet the needs of the people who rely on them.
“The rollout will be prioritised to the areas of greatest need and provide a solution to ease the fleet shortage on the Northern Beaches.
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby praised the NSW Government’s decision to ‘step up’ with new vehicles for the Northern Beaches fleet.
“This is the breakthrough we needed and a good start. I’ve fought hard for action on the bus crisis, and it’s great to see the Government stepping up although more needs to be done to address immediate issues.
“Today’s announcement of more fleet will address the underlying problem but in the meantime my constituents are facing reliability challenges and I will keep advocating and holding the Government to account.
“Commuters are furious and exasperated with timetable cuts and cancellations, causing commute times to have doubled to two hours, with many forced into their cars. People have told me they’re considering moving because their commute is unbearable.
“One day last week we saw zero cancellations on the 190X — that’s a huge step forward from the week earlier where cancellations were at over 50 percent.
“We’re left dealing with the legacy of the Liberal’s privatisation of our buses and whilst the new fleet is a big step forward, the Government needs to put pressure on Keolis Downer to deliver the services expected by commuters, services they are contracted to deliver,” said Ms Scruby.