Communities across NSW will benefit from 3,000 additional weekly bus services, with more frequent buses, new connections and services running later into the night as the Minns Labor Government continues to rebuild the state’s bus network.
The service boost, commencing on 15 and 22 November, will include new 24-hour bus services, improved connections across Greater Western Sydney and more services for regional communities.
It will bring the total number of additional weekly bus services delivered since the Minns Labor Government came to office to 9,000.
Among the changes, two of Sydney’s busiest bus routes, the 343 between Kingsford and Circular Quay and the 370 between Coogee and Glebe Point, will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The 418 between Sydenham and Burwood will also operate around the clock on Friday and Saturday nights, giving more people access to public transport after dark.
The additional services and timetable changes follow extensive community consultation undertaken by the Bus Industry Taskforce, which found buses had become the “forgotten mode” of transport under the former Liberal-National Government.
After years of cuts and privatisation by the former Liberal and National Government, the Minns Labor Government is investing in more frequent and reliable bus services to better meet the needs of communities across NSW.
The Government has also made progress addressing the bus driver shortage, reducing the shortfall from around 500 drivers when it came to office to around 200.
More buses, more often and later into the night
Night-time services
- Route 343 (Kingsford to Circular Quay) will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Route 370 (Coogee to Glebe Point) will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Route 418 (Sydenham to Burwood) will operate 24 hours a day on Fridays and Saturdays.
- These changes bring the total number of 24-hour bus routes to 40, including 29 operating seven days a week and 11 operating overnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Greater Western Sydney
- New route 848X between Wilton and Campbelltown during weekday peak periods.
- New route 847 between Wollongong and Picton via Wilton.
- New route 737 connecting Mount Druitt, Mount Druitt Hospital and Eastern Creek DFO via Rooty Hill.
- New route 725 between Blacktown and Eastern Creek via Walters Road, delivering 334 weekly services, including weekend and school holiday connections to Sydney Action Park and Sydney Motorsport Park.
- An additional 186 weekly services on route 723 between Mount Druitt and Rooty Hill, improving connections for residents and workers around Reservoir Road and Huntingwood.
- More frequent services in Marsden Park, Schofields, Riverstone, Box Hill and Tallawong, supporting connections to the M1 Metro.
- Improved connections to T1 Western Line services at Rooty Hill and Doonside.
- Changes to routes 868, 869 and 875 to improve coverage in growing communities and better align services with school bell times and student demand.
Inner West and Southwest Metro connections
- New route 444 between Leichhardt and Balmain East Wharf, improving connections to F4 ferry services and delivering on a Government commitment.
- New overnight Friday and Saturday services on route 418 between Burwood and Sydenham.
- An additional 160 weekly trips on route 370, supporting demand from university students and other passengers, with services operating 24/7.
- More off-peak trips and extended operating hours on route 413 between Campsie and Central.
- Route and timetable changes to the 450, 923, 939, 940, 941, 944, 945 and 946 to improve connections with the Southwest Metro, including 102 additional weekly trips on route 946.
- Additional peak-hour trips on route 526 to address overcrowding between Rhodes, Wentworth Point and Strathfield.
Eastern Suburbs
- Restoration of a direct connection between Bronte and the Sydney CBD through route 378, combining the existing route 389 with the Bronte section of route 379.
- An additional 54 weekly trips on the 339X Clovelly to City Museum express service, with extended morning and afternoon operating hours.
- An additional 113 weekly services on route 343, which will now operate 24/7.
- Extension of route 373 to Circular Quay via Elizabeth Street.
- Other service adjustments to respond to changing demand and improve reliability, including the use of more articulated buses to increase capacity on busy routes.
The service improvements form part of a wider changes to the bus timetable and the Government’s broader investment in rebuilding the bus network, including $6.5 billion announced in this year’s Budget for new electric buses and depots, supporting the transition away from diesel and opportunities for domestic bus manufacturing.
Passengers are encouraged to check their services before travelling using Trip Planner at transportnsw.info or the Opal Travel app.
Minister for Transport, John Graham said:
“We’re delivering 3,000 more bus services every week, giving people more options to get to work, school, university and home.
“That includes more frequent buses in growing communities, better connections to other public transport and more services running through the night.
“Buses were left behind under the former Liberal Government. We’re turning that around, with 9,000 additional weekly services delivered since coming to government.
“These improvements have been informed by extensive community consultation, and we’ll continue listening to passengers as we work to deliver a better, more reliable bus network.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill said:
“This huge uplift in local bus services is welcome news for our community and across Sydney after years of cuts and privatisation under the former Liberal Government, which left buses as the ‘forgotten mode’ of public transport.
“New 24/7 services on the 343 and 370 routes, alongside more frequent services across the Eastern Suburbs, and the restoration of the 373 to Circular Quay and the 378 between Bronte and the City will make it easier for people to get where they need to go, day or night.
“This investment is about restoring reliable public transport and delivering the services our growing communities deserve.”
Labor Candidate for Balmain Phillipa Scott said:
“Travel across our suburbs is as important as travel to the CBD. The 370 bus route supports students getting to uni, inner west residents getting to the beach, and eastern suburbs residents getting to the inner west for a night out. Increasing the frequency to 24/7 means more people can leave the car at home all across Sydney.”
