The final photos post for the year with our favourite photos from this December on the transport network.
Norbert Genci behind the wheel waves at the Camera whilst operating a 400 – Transport NSW Blog CollectionNew Route 304 began operation this month. Seen here on a bus with a State Transit 85 Anniversary Livery – Transport NSW Blog CollectionOne of the many Christmas Buses operated by Transit Systems – Transport NSW Blog CollectionTrains operating through Woollahra Ghost Station on the Eastern Suburbs Line – Transport NSW Blog Collection
In 2019 we are really going to try and push for our community to get involved in these posts. It would be just a few seconds once a month to take a photo of that bus or train or ferry that we all know you are catching. Please send your photos through either via email or one of our social channels to be included. They don’t need to be professional quality, just of Public Transport or Aviation. All photos will be attributed and we can even put your social handles so our viewers can find you.
From all of us here at Transport NSW Blog we wish you a very happy holidays! Whatever you celebrate, whether that be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or something different, we hope you enjoy time spent with family and friends this summer.
Enjoy three festively decorated buses from State Transit, Transdev and Transit Systems.
From 20 December 2018 there will be three new bus routes in South-West Sydney. This will include over 500 new weekly services will be introduced in the Camden, Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields areas, helping to provide more frequent services and greater travel options.
NEW ROUTES
840
New route 840 will run between Oran Park, Gregory Hills and Campbelltown Hospital via Gregory Hills Drive and Badgally Road providing over 250 weekly trips.
This route will provide new, direct services to Campbelltown Hospital from Oran Park and Gregory Hills
Services will run every 30 minutes during weekday peak times and every 60 minutes at other times, until around 8.30pm each night
859
New route 859 will run on weekdays between Carnes Hill and Edmondson Park Station via Greenway Drive and Horningsea Park Drive providing over 190 weekly trips.
Services will run every 30 minutes during peak periods and every 60 minutes at other times
868
New route 868 will run between Ingleburn Station and Edmondson Park Station via Ingleburn Industrial Estate and Edmondson Park providing 130 weekly trips
Some trips will operate via Denham Court (Denham Court Caravan Park)
Services will run every 30 minutes during peak periods, with limited services operating during off peak times.
ABOLISHED ROUTES
S9
Route S9 between Glenfield and Glenquarie withdrawn
This month our featured bus route is Route 477 operated by Transit Systems. It operates between Rockdale and Miranda via Kogarah and Sans Souci.
Ansair Orana Scania L113CRL mo3799 operates at 477 towards Miranda through Sans Souci – Transport NSW Blog Collection
Route 477 began operation in 1959. The old trolley bus system which had serviced the area since June 1937 closed on 29 August 1959. As such, beginning on 30 August 1959 Route 477 became one of a number of bus services to act as direct replacements to the trolley bus. It initially began as a service from Rockdale to Sans Souci via Rockdale, operating direct down Rocky Point Road during peak hours only, with the 476 and 478 providing service outside these peak hours. From March 1966, most services were truncated to Kogarah Station, with only a few buses continuing through to Rockdale.
The largest changes to the Route 477 service occurred during the 1990s. From 5 August 1990, the service was extended to run between Kogarah and Caringbah via Sans Souci, replacing peak hour Route 303 extensions that serviced the corridor between Sans Souci and Caringbah. At this time Route 477 still only operated during peak hours. From 12 January 1992, the service was altered to run along its current route between Rockdale and Miranda. Additionally, at this time Route 477 had its hours of service increased so it operated Monday to Saturday during daylight hours. From 25 February 1996, a Sunday service was also introduced.
Prior to 1 July 2018, Route 477 was operated by the State Transit Authority of New South Wales (State Transit or STA) and its predecessors; the Urban Transit Authority (UTA) and the Department of Government Transport (DGT). As part of the competitive tendering of Sydney Metropolitan Bus Contract Region 6, the service was taken over by Transit Systems (TSA) on 1 July 2018.
Today Route 477 is operated by Transit Systems out of their Tempe depot. The route is serviced by regular 12.5m buses, some of which are wheelchair accessible. The route operates between 6am and 10pm daily and takes between 30-45 minutes to operate end to end depending on time of day.
Bustech VST Scania K280UB 2814ST operates a 477 towards Rockdale through Sans Souci – Transport NSW Blog Collection
The best transport photos from November 2018! This month we saw movember themed buses and participated in the Sydney Airport Runway Run. This months photo set focuses on these events.
Transit Systems has adorned their buses with Moustaches in support of Movember – Transport NSW Blog CollectionCarbridge Mercedes-Benz O405NH Custom Coaches “CB60” TV9278 operating for the Sydney Airport Runway Run – Transport NSW Blog CollectionVH-JZG, an ex-Jetgo Embraer ERJ135 on the tarmac at Sydney Airport – Transport NSW Blog CollectionSydney Airport Runway 25, also known as the ‘East West’ during the Sydney Airport Runway Run – Transport NSW Blog CollectionA6-ECM, an Emirates 777-300ER on the tarmac at Sydney Airport – Transport NSW Blog Collection
From today contactless card payments are now available for services operated by Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink . When catching these services customers will now be able to tap on and off with their contactless card in lieu of their Opal Card.
Most American Express, Mastercard, Visa credit / debit cards or a smartphone, tablet or wearable device linked to one of these cards will be accepted on trains under these changes. Charges will be equivalent to the standard peak Opal fare for the same journey. Daily and weekly caps on charges will also be applied, making card travel as affordable as possible.
Not available using Contactless payments include Weekly Travel Rewards, Transfer Discounts, Off-peak train fare discounts, Trip Advantage and free access to Opal Park and Ride carparks.
This comes as the trial of contactless payments of Ferries and Light Rail have been successful, and will continue indefinitely.
From Sunday December 2 2018 there will be changes to many bus services across Sydney. These changes affect State Transit, Transit Systems and Transdev services across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, Northern Beaches and Pittwater, Sutherland Shire and Upper North Shore areas. The changes are designed to better reflect current customer travel patterns and provide more travel options.
From Sunday 2 December 2018 State Transit Bus Services will become cash free. This includes all services operated by STA, including buses in the Eastern Suburbs, Lower North Shore and Northern Beaches. STA services in the Riverside Suburbs and North West are already cash free.
This will mean that Opal single tickets will no longer be sold onboard any State Transit bus service and passengers must have an Opal Card with sufficient balance in order to travel. This new policy is expected to speed up services and increase reliability by removing delays caused by ticket sales.
From Sunday 2 December, there will be major changes to State Transit and Transit Systems services in the South East of Sydney. These changes form part of the ‘Green Square and Waterloo Transport Action Plan’ that is designed to sustainably improve transport connections and accessibility in the region.
Route 303 is one of the many routes that will have changes
“These enhancements will benefit Green Square and Waterloo customers, creating capacity for more than 20,000 additional weekly passengers,” according to Transport for NSW Coordinator General Marg Prendergast. Two new turn up and go services will be added, as well as additional peak hour and late night services and improved connections to the Australian Technology Park in Redfern.
The Green Square and Waterloo area is one of the fastest growing areas in the world. By 2022 it will have a population density higher than most parts of Singapore or Hong Kong, with over 22 000 people per square kilometre. These changes are needed to cope with all of these new residents. Additionally, the plan includes the new Waterloo Metro Station, Road and Cycleway upgrades as well as a potential light rail line.
Key Changes Include;
New Routes
304
Rosebery and Circular Quay via Zetland, Waterloo and Surry Hills. Serves East Village Shopping Centre
New 24/7, turn-up and go service
307
Port Botany and Mascot Station via Matraville, Eastgardens, Pagewood, Botany and Mascot shops
Provides local coverage and connections to buses at Eastgardens, Botany and Mascot and trains at Mascot station.
Replaces route 309 and 310 in the Port Botany, Matraville and Eastgardens areas.
309X
Railway Square and Port Botany via Redfern, Green Square station and Botany Road.
Every 10 minutes during the morning and afternoon peaks.
Replaces route L09
310X
Banksmeadow and Railway Square via Botany, Mascot, and Green Square station.
Running every 10 minutes during the morning and afternoon peaks. Combined with route 309, this will result in buses every 5 minutes between Botany Shops and Green Square station during peak periods
Replaces route X09 and X10 services
400N
All-stops service between Eastgardens and Bondi Junction
Changed to operate to and from Redfern Station, providing new links to the rail network
Route 304 will provide services between Rosebery, Waterloo and the City
305
Changed to operate between Redfern Station and Mascot only
Service frequency adjusted to every 30 minutes
308
Changed to operate between Marrickville Metro and Central Station full time
Weekday morning and afternoon peak hour services currently terminating at or commencing from Redfern Station will be extended to Central Station via Redfern and Chalmers/Elizabeth Streets
309
Changed to operate between Banksmeadow and Railway Square
Running every 12 minutes or better during the day, 7 days a week, with services around every 10 minutes during morning and afternoon peak times on weekdays, and every 15 minutes during evenings (30 mins late night
343
Additional services across the week, including higher capacity with proposed increase of 18% more capacity between 7am-8am and 16% capacity between 8am-9am.
400
Limited stops route 400 overnight services between 12am – 5am replaced by new route 400N All-stops service between Eastgardens and Bondi Junction
Transport NSW Blog 