‘Transport and bus operators must work together’
The Bus Industry Taskforce’s final report has called for two new B-Line rapid services, better pay for bus drivers, and more punitive measures for private operators.
Busways and Keolis Downer were two of four reported regions that carry over 70 per cent of Sydney’s bus passengers, but driver shortages and poor transitions continue to cause recurring cancellations.
The taskforce found that Transport for NSW (TfNSW) had accepted low-cost franchise bids for services, which damaged the industry’s reputation. “A race to the bottom serves no one’s interest,” it said in the report.
Bus services had been neglected, underfunded and TfNSW’s lack of leadership had contributed to its degradation, the report concluded.
TfNSW and contractors were urged to work in partnership and lose the ‘us and them’ mentality. One of the suggested measures for operators who continually step out of line should be to bring in a public-owned operator, the taskforce said.
A spokesperson for TfNSW told PL it knew that B-Line services ‘work,’ with the Northern Beaches B-Line reducing improving journey times by six per cent and increasing ridership by 20 per cent.
Asked if the mooted B-Lines would be for the Northern Beaches, TfNSW replied:
“We are developing a medium-term bus plan which will consider a range of locations across Greater Sydney.”
Wakehurst Independent MP Michael Regan said he pushed for a Chatswood to Dee Why B-Line route when he was mayor. “Although this was a 2019 pre- election promise from the former (Liberal) government, it remains unfulfilled,” Mr Regan told PL.“As a stop-gap, they introduced an X160 to Chatswood to ensure it could be ramped up once density around the (Northern Beaches) Hospital started to filter through.”
TfNSW said it had implemented several previous taskforce recommendations, such as free Opal cards to drivers.
Keolis Downer applauded the free travel, and said while it had been challenging to recruit drivers, it had made ‘significant progress.’ “Our current driver vacancy is 25 [down from 30 in March 2024],” a spokesperson said. “We have hired 276 drivers in the last two years.”
Mr Regan said he would like Keoride expanded, which only operates in Pittwater, connecting commuters to transport hubs and B-Line stops.
