Bus services in the Northwest are set for a major boost with introduction of 170 additional weekly bus services for customers starting from 7 November.
Member for Seven Hills Mark Taylor MP said the additional services will give customers more choice when planning their bus trip, especially at shoulder morning and afternoon peak periods, meaning passenger loads will be spread more evenly.
The improvements will result in 170 extra services in Baulkham Hills, 40 in Riverstone, 70 in Seven Hills and 105 in Castle Hill.
“There has been unprecedented customer growth across the northwest and it’s essential that we continue to provide additional capacity in areas where it is needed most,” Member for Castle Hill Ray Williams MP said.
“By giving people additional services and more options we’re providing better travel opportunities to key employment and education hubs while the government forges ahead with building the world-class Sydney Metro Northwest, which will provide another great option for customers when completed in 2019.” Member for Baulkham Hills David Elliott MP said.
Customers will also benefit from some other changes, including an extension of Route 628 through to Chatswood, as well as improvements to Route 618 which will now operate via the Lane Cove Tunnel, instead of via Epping Road. These trips will be renumbered to 618X.
Customers are also advised to plan ahead with minor changes to weekend departure times for some Hills District bus routes, commencing from Saturday 12 November.
“We’re doing everything we can to alert customers of these new service changes and my advice is to plan ahead now and check your journeys in advance,” Member for Riverstone Kevin Conolly MP said.
Customers can go online and use the trip planner at transportnsw.info to plan ahead.
They can also plan trips by downloading real-time transport apps, and customers can receive bus service updates for their area by following the new Transport Info Twitter handle @BusesNorthWest. Alternatively, they can call 131 500.
Since March 2011, the NSW Government has introduced more than 16,100 extra weekly public transport services and there’s more on the way.
Additional trips will be introduced on the following routes:
• 602X Rouse Hill to North Sydney
o 2 additional AM peak trips
o 3 additional PM peak trips
• 607X Rouse Hill to City via the M2 Motorway
o 3 additional AM peak trips
• 613X Bella Vista to City
o 3 additional AM peak trips
o 3 additional PM peak trips
• 615X North Kellyville and Kellyville to City
o 2 additional AM peak trips
o 2 additional PM peak trips
• 627 Castle Hill to Chatswood via Lane Cove
o 4 additional AM peak trips
o 5 additional PM peak trips
• 628 Macquarie Park to Norwest via M2
o All trips will be extended to operate to and from Chatswood, via Epping Road, Lane Cove Interchange and the Pacific Highway
o 2 additional AM peak trips
o 5 additional PM peak trips.
The routes affected by weekend timetable changes include:
• City services – 607X, 610, 610X, M61, 620X, 621, 651
• Parramatta services – 600, M60, 601, 603, 604, 606, 609, 625, 700, 711, T60, T61, T62, T64, T65, T66
• Macquarie services – 611, 619, 621, 651
• Local services – 632, 633, 637, 638, 639, 702.