Liverpool-Parramatta T-way

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Liverpool-Parramatta T-way
Overview
Mode	Bus rapid transit line
Area	Western Sydney
Map colour	Blue
Owner	Ministry of Transport
Design
Length	30 km
Stations	35
Connects	Liverpool Parramatta
2003	Opened
Operations
Operator(s)	Western Sydney Buses
Patronage	41,500 per week[1]
Public transport |  v • d • e

The Liverpool-Parramatta T-way is a bus rapid transit line in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. The t-way links the railway stations at Parramatta and Liverpool via a series of bus-only roadways and bus lanes. The term "t-way" is short for rapid bus transitway.

Services along the length of the t-way are operated by Western Sydney Buses, a unit of the State Transit Authority of New South Wales.

A long-awaited first step in a plan to improve public transport services in Sydney's western suburbs, the t-way has so far failed to live up to expectations—carrying half the number of passengers expected.^[1] A second line, the North-West T-way, was opened in March 2007. This t-way now links Parramatta with the suburbs of Blacktown and Rouse Hill.

[edit] Design and construction

The Sydney T-way network. The Liverpool-Parramatta link is shown in blue. The North-West link is shown in aqua. Proposed sections are shown in black. Intermediate stations not shown.

The t-way is a joint venture between the New South Wales Ministry of Transport and the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales.

The line runs through the central business district of Parramatta, before heading onto the Great Western Highway to South Wentworthville, after which it heads onto its own alignment next to the Sydney Water pipeline that runs from Prospect reservoir. It then proceeds on its own alignment in an old freeway reservation through to Hoxton Park. At Brickmakers' Creek in Liverpool it heads onto its own alignment to access the main centre of Liverpool and the railway station bus interchange.

The t-way is served by 35 stations, spaced every 800 metres. These stations all include:

• closed circuit television cameras
• extensive lighting
• display screens which provide accurate information on arrival and departure times
• real-time digital information
• easy accessibility
• bicycle parking
• emergency help points

These stations are more substantial than normal bus stops—featuring real-time information displays, landscaping and attractive plate-glass walls. This has led to criticism that the system is overly costly and vulnerable to vandalism.^[1]

[edit] Services

Services on the t-way, numbered as route T80, are operated by Western Sydney Buses. In peak hours, services run every 10 minutes. At other times, services run every 15-30 minutes. Late at night, services run hourly. This compares with services on Brisbane's Busway bus rapid transit system running as frequently as every 40 seconds..^[1]

Services were initially provided using a fleet of 17 natural gas powered buses in blue and yellow T-way livery. These have since been replaced by Volvo-made Euro 3 diesel buses. All services are wheelchair-accessible and air-conditioned.

[edit] Liverpool–Parramatta stations

The Liverpool–Parramatta T-way serves the suburbs of Parramatta, Mays Hill, South Wentworthville, Merrylands West, Woodpark, Smithfield, Wetherill Park, Prairiewood, Busby, Cartwright, Miller, Prestons, Lurnea and Liverpool. Certain services stop at all stations; others stop at all stations between Bonnyrigg and Parramatta. Stations, spaced around 800 m apart, are located at:

• Liverpool (rail interchange)
• Macquarie
• Memorial
• Brickmakers
• Maxwells
• Ash (connect to bus routes 853, 854, 855)
• Miller
• Hinchinbrook
• Cartwright
• Busby
• Green Valley
• Brown (connect to bus route 833)
• Bonnyrigg (connect to bus routes 826, 827, 831)
• Clear Paddock
• St Johns
• Orphan School
• Prairiewood (connect to bus routes 800, 826, 827)
• Horsley
• Victoria (connect to bus route 829)
• Elizabeth
• Wetherill
• Hassall
• Gipps
• Cooper (connect to bus route 808)
• Smithfield
• Warren
• Woodpark
• Canal
• Sherwood (connect to bus routes 811, 813, 815)
• Centenary
• Finalyson
• Coleman
• Mays Hill
• Pitt
• Parramatta (rail interchange)

Major stations are shown in bold.

[edit] Transitways in Sydney

Transitways were conceived as an alternative to commuter railway services because of the lower cost and higher flexibility that they offer. Transitways can be constructed without the need for a dedicated corridor or tunnel. Buses can join and leave the transitway at various points along the route, giving the t-way a wider feeder area than rail.

The t-ways are built as separate bus-only roads where undeveloped railway and motorway corridors are available, and as bus-only lanes on existing roads.

The New South Wales Government advocated t-ways in order to meet the growing public transport needs of Western Sydney in a planning document called Action for Transport 2010. The plan called for 90-kilometre-long bus rapid transit network linking a number of major centres west of Strathfield. To date, only two t-ways have been greenlighted and only one, Liverpool-Parramatta, has been completed.

The 1998 Action for Transport 2010 plan called for seven transitways to be constructed by 2010:

• Parramatta - Strathfield Transitway (2002)
• Liverpool - Parramatta Transitway (2003)
• St Marys - Penrith Transitway (2003-2008)
• Parramatta - Blacktown Transitway (2004)
• Blacktown - Wetherill Park Transitway (2006)
• Blacktown - Castle Hill (2009)
• Parramatta - Mungerie Park, near Rouse Hill (2010)

Transitways can only be used by rapid bus services, selected local bus services and emergency vehicles. Other motorists using a bus lane (except to turn or overtake) can be fined. Other bus-only roadways exist in Sydney including a bus roadway at Moore Park and a dedicated roadway in the centre of the M2 Hills Motorway. In addition, Sydney has a large and expanding network of bus-only lanes on main roads.

[edit] External links

• NSW Government T-way website
• Sydney public transport information
• Leighton Contractors

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Jordan Baker. "Transport's vision splendid running at only half capacity", The Sydney Morning Herald, 2006-08-25. Retrieved on January 4, 2007.