Author: transportnsw

I am the editor of Transport NSW Blog. I have a keen interest in public transport and politics.
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Upcoming Transport Changes

Major changes are coming to the NSW transport network from tomorrow (Sunday 23rd September), with additional changes starting from next week (Sunday 30th September).

As we have previously reported these are very major network changes including a new bus network for the Bondi and Mascot areas as well as a new train network for the North Shore and Northern suburbs. You can find out all of the details at the links below

  • Eastern Beaches Bus Service Changes from 23rd September here
  • All Changes from 30th September here
  • Train Changes from 30th September here
  • 400 and 418 Mascot changes from 30th September here
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Route 333 between North Bondi and City Circular Quay is becoming a 24 Hour Rapid Transit Turn Up and Go service from 23rd September – Image: Transport For NSW
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Route 400 between Bondi Junction and Burwood is being cut in half alongside other major route changes in the Mascot area from 30th September – Image: Transport For NSW
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Station Link buses are replacing all train services between Chatswood and Epping from 30th September – Image: Transport For NSW
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Sydney’s Transport History – The Development of the Tramways

Sydney was once home to one of the largest tramway network in the world. Back at the hight of the operation, over 400 million journeys were made each year over 291km of track. Today we take a look back at the development of the Sydney Tramways.

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Circular Quay at the height of the tramways in 1923

The first tramway opened in Sydney in 1861. It was a horse drawn line between the Old Sydney Railway Station in Redfern and Circular Quay along Pitt Street. It was short lived and closed in 1866 after complaints about the damage the tracks caused to wagons and a fatal accident.

In 1879 the tramways returned, this time with a steam tram line between Redfern Station and Hunter Street in the Northern CBD. The success of this line quickly lead to many lines being developed throughout inner Sydney. Initially throughout the 1880s and 90s, the lines were built as steam lines.

From 1898 the network began to be electrified, with most of the System converted by 1910. Lines from Circular Quay to the Eastern and Inner Western suburbs throughout the life of the network. Many well known lines included the one to Bondi, which reached the Beach in 1894. The lines to Coogee and La Perouse line, which opening in Stages from 1880, being the first Suburban tram line in Sydney and containing what may have been the first tram balloon loop in the world. The lines reached Coogee in 1883 and La Perouse in 1902.  The line to Ryde was the longest line in the network, at nearly 20km long.

From 1886 lines operated on the North Shore from Millions Point, until the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932, when most services were redirected to Wynyard and connected with the mains system south of the harbour. Lines from Manly began in 1903, and operated along the Northern Beaches seperate from the main system. Also isolated from the main system were the Southern suburbs lines, operating as rail feeder services for the Illawarra line.

The Tramway network reached its fullest extent in 1923, with over 291km of track. At the time nearly 1600 cars were in service at any one time. The network was the second largest in the Commonwealth of Nations, after London and the largest in Australia.

This article just scratches the surface in the development. For information on a specific line, let us know and we will give you information. image.pngimage.pngimage.pngimage.png

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Sydney’s Transport History – The First Government Bus

The continuous 85 years that the State government has run bus services wasn’t actually the first time that Government had run bus services. Back in 1905, the Government Railway Commissioners began a motor omnibus service.

The Government Motor Omnibus Act, 1905, allowed the Railway Commissioner the power to construct, purchase or lease motor omnibuses and operate them on routes as approved by the governor. Orders were placed for four steam buses for Clarkson Ltd, of Chelmsford, England and were bodied by Angus & Son in Newtown. This practise of importing Chassis and locally building bodies continues with the government bus services today.

The first two buses, 18 passenger single deck 1M and 2M inaugurated government bus services in Sydney on 4 December 1905. They operated between Potts Point and Taylor Square on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, a distance of just under 2 kilometres. One bus would operate the service whilst the other would act as a standby in case of a breakdown. High costs coupled with low revenue saw the service ceased by 7 April 1906.

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Bus 1M that operated the first government bus service in Sydney between Potts Point and Darlinghurst on 4 December 1905

On 23 April 1906,  double deckers 3M and 4M began their short lived life operating a 2.5 kilometre route between Dulwich Hill and Enmore. These busses were even more short lived than the original route, dealings service on 29 May 1906 due to the unsuitability of the chassis to the type of work.

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Bus 4M, one of two original double decker buses used between Dulwich Hill and Enmore in April and May 1906.

After racking up losses of more than £6600 over just six months of operation, the buses were scraped at Randwick Workshops. This left the Railway commissioner to focus on Tramway and Railway operation and the bus network to a myriad of private operator for the next 26 years.

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Reader Submissions – We Want Your Pictures

Here at Transport NSW Blog, we love receiving submissions from our loyal fanbase of readers. From featured bus route suggestions to photos, we want to see more. When we can, with the permission of the owner of the information, we can’t help but share stuff with the rest of our readers. Don’t forget to submit all your transport related questions and pictures for us to see.

Thanks to Cooper Crellin for the pictures on his recent flight to Europe

 

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Busways Bus Strike Again

Busways services will be impacted by protected industrial action tomorrow, Tuesday 11th September 2018. This includes services in the Blacktown, Gosford, Penrith, Windsor and Wyong. This is being organised by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) over disagreements between Busways and the TWU caused by a new enterprise agreement.

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Drivers will stop work from 6am to 7am and again from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. Services up to 30 minutes outside those time periods to allow for drivers to get to and from their depots.

It is also understood that drivers will also not turn on the Opal readers at all tomorrow, allowing for a “fare free day” This will mean however that Real Time data information will not be available.

All school services will operate as normal.

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Light Rail Photos

Today we were out and about along the Light Rail line in Randwick. Here are some photos so you can see the great progress that has been made in recent months.

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Busways Bus Strike

Busways services will be impacted by protected industrial action tomorrow, Friday 7th September 2018. This includes services in the Blacktown, Gosford, Penrith, Windsor and Wyong.

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Drivers will stop work between 12pm and 1pm for a meeting, with some services cancelled as early as 11am and as late as 2pm to allow for the driver to get to and from the meeting site.

It is also understood that drivers will also not turn on the Opal readers at all tomorrow, allowing for a “fare free day” This will mean however that Real Time data information will not be available.

All school services will operate as normal.

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Major Service Changes from 30th September

Major service changes are occurring to bus and train services across Sydney and Newcastle from 30th September 2018. These changes are designed to improve reliability and connections as well as respond to changes in operation requirements surrounding the closure of the ECRL and the privatisation of Region 6 Buses.

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Train Service Changes

T1 North Shore Line
  • Services which currently operate via the Epping to Chatswood rail line will be replaced with trains starting or ending at Gordon, Hornsby or Berowra.
  • More AM peak hour services to the City for customers at Mount Kuring-gai, Mount Colah, Hornsby and all stations from Wahroonga to Roseville.
  • Customers who catch trains from Gordon to Roseville will also benefit from more services across most of the day.

T1 Northern Line
  • Current services between Hornsby and the City via Chatswood will be replaced by limited stop services via Strathfield. These services will start or terminate at Central during peak times.  At all other times, trains will directly connect to Wynyard, Town Hall and North Shore stations via Strathfield and Central.
  • Most Normanhurst to Cheltenham customers travelling to the CBD in the morning peak will have faster or similar journey times compared with today.
  • Two extra services per hour in the morning peak and a doubling of trains in the evening peak for Rhodes, Meadowbank and West Ryde.
  • All peak hour services to operate as eight car trains to improve capacity and comfort for all T1 Northern Line customers

Central Coast and Newcastle Line
  • Double the number of express services operating to and from the Sydney CBD via Strathfield during peak times, with an express train every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes.
  • Customers will still have the option to catch direct trains to and from Sydney CBD via the North Shore, with no change to the current number of peak services.
  • The current trial of a fast train service operating between Newcastle and Sydney will continue.

T8 Airport & South Line
  • Revesby will receive two more Sydney CBD bound express services running via Airport Stations in the morning peak. By catching these services Revesby customers could save about nine minutes per trip or up to 45 minutes a week, travelling to the Airport or other popular stations, like Mascot and Green Square.

Bus Service Changes

New Station Link Bus Services
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Route Details
SL1 Epping to Chatswood via Macquarie University, Macquarie Park and North Ryde

Monday to Friday Both Directions

4.30am to 6am: every 10 minutes

6am to 9pm: every 6 minutes

9pm to 12.30am: every 10 minutes

Saturday and Sunday Both Directions

5am to 10am: every 10 minutes

10am to 7pm: every 5 minutes

7pm to 12.30am: every 10 minutes
SL2 Epping to Chatswood via Motorway and North Ryde

Monday to Friday

To Chatswood

6am to 10am: at least every 6 minutes

To Epping
3pm to 7pm: at least every 6 minutes
SL3 Beecroft to St Leonards via Macquarie University and Macquarie Park

Monday to Friday

To St Leonards
6am to 10am: every 6 minutes

To Beecroft
3pm to 7pm: at least every 6 minutes
SL4 St Leonards to Macquarie Universityvia Macquarie Park

Monday to Friday

To St Leonards
6am to 10am: at least every 20 minutes

3pm to 7pm: at least every 4 minutes

To Macquarie University
6am to 10am: at least every 4 minutes

3pm to 7pm: at least every 15 minutes
SL5 Eastwood to Macquarie Park via Macquarie University

Monday to Friday

To Macquarie Park
6am to 10am: every 6 minutes

To Eastwood
3pm to 7pm: every 6 minutes
SL6 Epping to Macquarie Park via Macquarie University

Monday to Friday

To Macquarie Park
6am to 10am: every 12 minutes

To Epping
3pm to 7pm: every 10 minutes
SL7 Epping to Macquarie University Campus

Monday to Friday

To Macquarie University Campus
7am to 3pm: every 10 minutes

To Epping
10am to 7pm: every 10 minutes
Northern Bus Changes
Route Details
136
  • Route 136 will have improved hours of operation and frequencies seven days a week supporting improved access to the new Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest
  • Services will be increased to operate every 10 minutes during morning and afternoon peak periods and every 15 minutes during off peak times and on weekends, with additional evening services
  • On weekdays, services will start earlier, and the last trip will now depart Chatswood at approximately 11.15pm
  • On weekends, services will start earlier and end later, with the first service departing Chatswood at approximately 6am and the last service departing at approximately 11.30pm on Saturdays and 10.30pm on Sundays
  • Route 136 will serve bus stops for the new Northern Beaches Hospital on Frenchs Forest Road
141
  • New route 141 will operate between Manly and Austlink via Fairlight, Balgowlah, Seaforth and Belrose (Hakea Av and Blackbutts Rd)
  • Services will run at least hourly between 5.30am and 11pm daily
  • Route 141 will serve bus stops for the new Northern Beaches Hospital on Frenchs Forest Road
169
  • All Route 169 City services (except for early morning trips) will now stop at the Northern Beaches Hospital on Frenchs Forest Road
  • Route 169 will serve bus stops for the new Northern Beaches Hospital on Frenchs Forest Road
  • There will be no change to route E69 services during weekday peak periods
193
  • New route 193 will operate between Austlink and Warringah Mall via Belrose (Forest Way), Frenchs Forest, Beacon Hill and Brookvale
  • Services will run from approximately 5am to 11pm on weekdays and 5.30am to 11pm on weekends
  • On Mondays to Saturdays, services will operate every 30 minutes during the day and every hour at night 
  • On Sundays, services will run every hour
  • Route 193 will serve bus stops for the new Northern Beaches Hospital on Frenchs Forest Road
270

271
  • Additional weekend services
  • On weekends services will start earlier with services arriving in the City around 7am and departing from the City from approximately 7am
  • On Sundays Routes 270 and 271 will each run every 30 minutes, resulting in a 15 minute service between Frenchs Forest and the City
Minor service adjustments will also be introduced on routes 586, 592, 596, 599
Eastern Suburbs and Inner West Bus Changes
Route Details
357

(new route)
  • New route 357 will operate between Mascot Station and Bondi Junction via Mascot Station, Kingsford and POW Hospital
  • This new route replaces route 418 between Kingsford and Bondi Junction. Route 418 will be changed to operate between Burwood and Kingsford only
  • Service frequency between will be every 30 minutes seven days a week and every 20 mins during peak periods
  • Journeys between Mascot Station and Kingsford will benefit from increased service frequency seven days a week along with route 418
  • These changes are being introduced to accommodate increased demand and to support more reliable journeys
400
  • Existing route 400 (Burwood – Bondi Junction via Rockdale and Sydney Airport) will change to operate between Sydney Airport International Terminal and Bondi Junction only
  • If you are travelling between Burwood and Sydney Airport International Terminal you can use the new route 420 (Burwood – Eastgardens)
  • There will be no change to the current route or stops between Sydney Airport International Terminal and Eastgardens
  • Service frequency between Sydney Airport International Terminal and Bondi Junction will be every 20 minutes seven days a week and 30 mins at night
  • Journeys between Sydney Airport International Terminal and Eastgardens will benefit from increased service frequency seven days a week along with the new route 420
  • Additional services continue to run between Eastgardens and Bondi Junction
  • New overnight services will be introduced, seven days a week
  • These changes are being introduced to accommodate increased demand and to support more reliable journeys
410
  • Existing route 410 (Rockdale to Bondi Junction) will be withdrawn, with alternative services provided by routes 400 and 420
  • These changes are being introduced to support changes to route 400 and new route 420
418
  • Existing route 418 (Burwood to Bondi Junction via Sydenham and Kingsford) will change to operate between Burwood and Kingsford only
  • If you are travelling between Kingsford and Bondi Junction you can use new route 357 (Mascot Station – Bondi Junction)
  • There will be no change to the route or stops between Burwood and Kingsford
  • Service frequency between Burwood and Kingsford will be every 30 minutes seven days a week, increasing to approximately every 20 mins during peak periods
  • Journeys between Mascot Station and Kingsford will benefit from increased service frequency seven days a week in along with the new route 357
  • These changes are being introduced to accommodate increased demand and to support more reliable journeys
420

420N

(new route)
  • New route 420 will operate between Burwood and Eastgardens via Rockdale and Sydney Airport
  • This new route replaces the route 400 between Burwood and Rockdale. Route 400 will change to operate between Rockdale and Bondi Junction only
  • Journeys between Rockdale and Eastgardens will benefit from increased service frequency seven days a week in along with the route 400
  • New overnight service, the 420N, will be introduced, running seven days a week
  • These changes are being introduced to accommodate increased demand and to support more reliable journeys
423
  • New overnight services will be introduced seven days a week, resulting in 24 hour services to Newtown, Enmore, Marrickville, Earlwood and Kingsgrove
461
  • Additional morning and afternoon shoulder peak services on weekdays
  • Additional weeknight services, increasing evening service frequency to every 15 minutes
  • Additional weekend daytime services, increasing daytime service frequency on weekends to every 20 minutes
  • Later weeknight and weekend night departures from the City
504
  • Additional late evening services seven days a week, increasing late evening service frequency to every 30 minutes
  • Later weeknight and Saturday night departures from the City
North West and West Bus Changes
Route Details
251
  • Additional morning and afternoon shoulder peak services on weekdays
253
  • Additional morning and afternoon shoulder peak services on weekdays
285
  • Additional morning shoulder peak services on weekdays
288
  • Additional morning and afternoon and early evening peak services on weekdays
  • Most weekday off peak trips between Macquarie Centre and City will be extended to operate to and from Epping
292
  • Additional morning shoulder peak trips commencing from Mowbray Road West to the City
293
  • Additional morning and afternoon shoulder peak services on weekdays
294
  • Additional morning and afternoon peak services on weekdays
533
  • Additional morning and afternoon peak services on weekdays between Sydney Olympic Park and Rhodes Station
M54
  • Additional morning and afternoon peak services on weekdays
614X
  • Additional morning and afternoon shoulder peak services will be introduced on weekdays, providing more travel options
  • Some of the additional morning peak trips will start from Winston Hills Mall
  • The additional services will provide more options to and from the City with services available later into the morning and afternoon peak periods
637

638
  • Some existing route 637 and 638 trips during the morning and evening peak periods on weekdays will be adjusted to reduce service duplication and improve timetable legibility
  • One existing trip on route 637 to Pennant Hills during the morning peak will be changed to operate as a school service, and a route 638 trip will be extended to Pennant Hills, with connections to/from route 637 available at Round Corner Dural
  • One existing afternoon peak trip on route 637 from Pennant Hills towards Dural will be changed to operate as a route 638 trip, with connections to/from route 637 available at Round Corner Dural
639
  • Minor service adjustment to accommodate demand and support more reliable journeys
640
  • Minor service adjustment to accommodate demand
  • Some peak trips will be changed to operate as dedicated school services based on demand
M60
  • Some morning peak trips between Pennant Hills and Castle Hill will be adjusted to accommodate demand, providing greater travel options for travel from Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook to Parramatta
Minor service adjustments will also be introduced on routes 295, 501, 515, 546, 549, 553, 603, 605, 607X, 608, 609, 610, 610X, 611, 619, 626, 630, 632, 633, 635, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 644, 651, 661, 702, 705, 711, 714, 715, 728, 729, 746, 756, 757, 775, 780, 786, T72, 841, 858, 865, 866, N50, N70, N71, N80, N81, M61
Newcastle and Hunter Bus Changes
Route Details
138

140
  • All route 138 and 140 services will have a minor route change in the Newcastle CBD to accommodate changed travel conditions and support more reliable journeys
261
  • All route 261 trips will no longer operate via Cottonwood Chase or Featherwood Way in Fletcher, and will instead operate via Churnwood Drive and Bottlebrush Boulevarde
  • These changes are being introduced to improve access to bus services in the surrounding residential area and to support more reliable journeys
262

263
  • All route 262 and 263 trips will be extended to serve Portland Drive in Cameron Park, with both routes ending in the vicinity of Northridge Drive
  • These changes are being introduced to provide greater coverage for the growing residential area in Cameron Park
266

(new route)
  • New route 266 will operate between West Wallsend and Newcastle via Glendale, Wallsend and Broadmeadow
  • Two morning peak and two evening peak trips will operate on weekdays
  • Route 266 will replace the existing route 267 trips operating to and from Newcastle, and will no longer operate via the University of Newcastle
  • If you travel to or from West Wallsend and the University you can use the alternative route 267 trips, or transfer from route 266 to route 24, 27, 260, 261 or 270 at Wallsend shops
  • These changes are being introduced to accommodate demand and support more reliable journeys
267
  • All route 267 trips to or from University, Jesmond or Cardiff will be changed to operate via Glendale Drive between Stockland Glendale and Main Road, instead of via Lake Road
  • Existing morning and afternoon peak trips to and from Newcastle will be changed to operate as route 266 trips
  • Some off peak trips on weekdays will divert via Teralba Road in West Wallsend to improve access to Sugar Valley Lifestyle Estate
  • These changes are being introduced to accommodate demand, improve access to bus services, and support more reliable journeys
Central Coast Bus Changes
Minor service adjustments will also be introduced on the following bus routes:

15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 30, 32, 32/4, 34, 34/2, 36, 37, 38, 44, 47, 50, 50/3, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 63, 64, 65, 66A, 66C, 67, 68, 70, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 95X, 96, 97, 98, 99
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Featured Bus Route – September 2018

This month our featured bus route is Route 700 operated by CDC Hillsbus. Route 700 runs from Parramatta Interchange to Blacktown Station via Blacktown Road, Great Western Highway and Wentworthville.

This route dates from April 2, 1982, when a number of local bus routes from the 1925 bus numbering system were renumbered and re routed into the 700. This original service was operated by Western Road Bus Services. In 1987, the route was acquired by Toongabbie Buses and then later in December 1988, it was acquired by WestBus.

From December 3, 1994 the 700 was rerouted via Blacktown Rd direct, instead of operating via Hayes Road through Seven Hills. Subsequent changes of hands saw WestBus bought out by National Express Group and then later ComfortDelGro Cabcharge. In May 2004, the operating name of WestBus was changed to Hillsbus in the area which Route 700 operated.

In May of 2009, Route 700 was rerouted in the Westmead area, replacing part of rerouted 705, as a result of Ministry of Transport review of Region 4.

The service is operated out of the Hillsbus depot in Seven Hills. It has an average running time of 45 minutes outside of peak hours. It runs every 30 minutes between 6am and 11pm daily, with extra services in peak hours.

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Changes to Route 400 and 418 from September 30

Transport NSW Blog has been shown information regarding potential changes to Routes 400 and 418 from September 30 2018. These changes relate to previously reported information surrounding the potential splitting of the routes.

It is understood that the following splits will occur.

357: Bondi Junction – Mascot Station (STA R9)
418: Burwood – Kingsford (TSA R6)

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This would see the old STA route 357 return along its old route between Bondi and Mascot replacing the existing 418, with the 418 being truncated to Kingsford. The two will share a common route between Mascot and Kingsford.

400: Bondi Junction – International Airport (STA R9)
420: Burwood – Eastgardens (TSA R6)

IMG_2261Route 400 will be truncated short at the International Airport, whilst a new route, 420 will take over the western portion of the route. They will share a common route between the Airport and Eastgardens. Both of these routes will run 24 hours, 7 days a week and will be limited stops. Route 410 will be abolished.