Bus routes in Sydney

Bus routes in Sydney, Australia are generally numbered with three digits, the first digit referring to the region in which the bus route primarily operates.

Contents

Metrobus

Main article: Metrobus (Sydney)

In October 2008, State Transit began a trial of a timetable-less high frequency bus route between Leichhardt in the inner west and Kingsford in the south-eastern suburbs via the CBD. A combination of fixed body and bendy-buses in a red livery were provided for the service. On 14 October 2008, the Sydney Morning Herald revealed plans for several more metrobus routes across the inner city, numbered in the 10-100 series.[1]

The Metrobus network include:

M10 - Leichhardt Bus Depot to Kingsford later extended to Maroubra Junction via, University of New South Wales, Anzac Pde, City, Broadway, University of Sydney, Parramatta Rd and Leichhardt.

M20 - Gore Hill to Mascot Shops later extended to Botany Shops via, North Sydney, City, Central Station and Rosebery.

M30 - Spit Junction to Sydenham Station via, Military Rd, City, Railway Square, Newtown and Enmore.

M40 - Bondi Junction Interchange to Chatswood Interchange via, Oxford St, Paddington, Taylor Square, City, Freeway and Willoughby.

M41 - Macquarie Park to Hurstville via Top Ryde, Burwood and Bexley North.

M50 - Coogee to Drummoyne via, The Spot, The Royal Womans Hospital, Randwick, University of New South Wales, Central Station, City, Victoria Rd and Rozelle.

M52 - City-Circular Quay to Parramatta via, Victoria Rd, Top Ryde and West Ryde. The M52 replaces the old L20.

M54 - Parramatta to Macquarie Park via, Epping, Macquarie University and Centre.

M60 - Hornsby Interchange to Parramatta via Castle Hill. The M60 follows and replaces the 600 between Castle Hill and Parramatta.

M61 - Railway Square to Castle Hill Interchange via, City, Lane Cove Tunnel and M2 motorway. The M61 follows the 610X between City and Castle Hill.

M90 - Burwood to Liverpool via, Strathfield and Bankstown. The M90 replaces the old 900.

M91 - Parramatta to Hurstville via Bankstown.

M92 - Parramatta to Sutherland via Bankstown.

NOTE: The M10 to M54 are operated by Sydney Buses. The M60 and M61 are operated by Hillsbus. The M90 to M92 are operated by Veolia Transport.

Northern Beaches services (100 series)

69 bus routes numbered in the 100 series provide services between the Northern Beaches region of Sydney and the central business district. A complex array of all stops, express and limited-stops services are provided. Much of the network is modelled on Sydney's former tram network, closed in 1961 in favour of a commuter bus system. 100 series services are operated by Sydney Buses and Forest Coach Lines. A number of 100 series buses serve interchanges at Warringah Mall and Manly Ferry Wharf.

Sydney Buses depots are located at Brookvale (V runs), Mona Vale (F runs) and Willoughby (M runs). Forest Coaches operates from Terrey Hills. Bus-only lanes are in operation at Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation, Balgowlah and Manly Road, Balgowlah.

Route 144 has the distinction of being the first government-operated bus route in Sydney. Services commenced between Manly Wharf and Cremorne Junction on 25 December 1932, connecting with tram services at Cremorne Junction. Buses were initially hired from White Transit Company at Naremburn. The service was an instant success with over 2000 passengers carried on the first day alone. In October 1931, government legislation prevented the operation of private bus services in competition with government owned tram services. As private operators could not survive as feeders only to the trams and trains, they ceased operation. This allowed the government to lease excess stock from the private operators when services began from 1932.[2] By the 1960s, the 144 had been extended to St Leonards, and later to Chatswood.

On the 2nd of August 2009, State transit implemented changes on this network including direct services Between Cromer Heights/War Verterns Home, and the City, new services to Elanora Heights, an extension to Warringah Mall for Route 135, and the withdrawal of some services like routes 146, 152, 172, E72, E73, & 193 plus more changes to various routes within the region.

North Shore services (200 series)

Services connecting Sydney's Northern Suburbs and North Shore regions with the central business district are numbered in the 200 series. There are 62 routes, numbered 200 through 297. Express and limited-stops services are also provided. Much of the network is modelled on Sydney's former tram network, closed in 1961 in favour of a commuter bus system. 200 series services are operated by Sydney Buses and Forest Coach Lines.

The major bus interchanges in this region are located at Chatswood Interchange, part of Chatswood railway station, Lane Cove, and stands in Blue Street, Miller Street and the Pacific Highway in North Sydney.

In general, citybound 200 series buses terminate at the Queen Victoria Building (near Town Hall railway station) and operate via the bus/rail interchange above Wynyard station. In general, 200 series buses operate from Sydney Buses depots at Willoughby (M runs), North Sydney (N runs) and Ryde (Y runs); and the Forest Coach Lines depot at Terrey Hills. Route 200 operates from Waverley depot (W runs) near the line's southern terminus in the Eastern Suburbs. Bus-only lanes have been installed on the Warringah Freeway, Epping Road, North Sydney and Military Road, Neutral Bay as well as on a southbound lane of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Eastern Suburbs services (300 series)

Bus routes in Sydney's eastern suburbs are numbered in the 300 series. Seventy-one routes are numbered 301 through 399, all of which are operated by Sydney Buses. Express and limited-stops services are also provided numbered in the X and L series. Much of the network is modelled on Sydney's former tram network which closed in 1961 in favour of a commuter bus system. Given their high density, Sydney's eastern suburbs have a significant public transport infrastructure in place. A bus-only roadway uses the old tramway alignment to speed buses through Moore Park and Centennial Park. A bus-only tunnel at Edgecliff gives buses priority access from New South Head Road to the terminal above the railway station. Bus-only lanes are in place on Anzac Parade and Oxford Street, two of the region's main roads.

State Transit maintains two major bus interchanges, located above Edgecliff railway station and Bondi Junction railway station. Another interchange is located within the Westfield Eastgardens shopping centre complex in Pagewood. Other significant nodes include Randwick Junction, Kingsford Nine Ways, Bondi Beach and the University of New South Wales. Bus depots serving the area are located at Port Botany (P runs), Randwick (R runs) and Waverley (W runs).

State Transit previously operated the Airport Express bus (numbered 300) in bright green and gold livery between the city and Sydney Airport. The service was withdrawn after the opening of the Airport rail link to encourage passengers to use the new rail line, given that the NSW government was obliged to pay compensation to the Airport Link Company if patronage targets were not met.

Services through the troubled inner-city neighbourhood of Redfern have been diverted on occasion due to people throwing rocks and other projectiles at buses.

The 370 service, linking Coogee Beach and Leichhardt via Newtown, Glebe and the universities of New South Wales and Sydney.

In 2008, State Transit released a proposal to reorganise some bus routes around the Green Square area, involving routes 301, 302, 303, 311, 343, X43, 357, & 359, .[3], and the results were that there were to be some changes to some of those services but the biggest change is that Route 348 has now been altered to operate a Weekday Daytime service and at the same time, extended to Wolli Creek via Rosebery.

Bondi Beach services

Route 360 replaced the former Route 329. The 360 runs between North Clovelly and Bondi Junction Interchange

Route 380 operates from North Bondi to Circular Quay through some of Sydney's most densley populated neighbourhoods. It replaced the famous Bondi Tram which closed in 1960. Additional services operate to and from Dover Heights and Watsons Bay. In 2002, a diversion along Denham and Dudley Streets in Bondi was eliminated under the Better Buses programme. The 380 now operates directly along Bondi Road.

Route 381 is a supplement to the 380, consisting of short workings of the 380 between Bondi and Bondi Junction. It was introduced in 2001, and maintains a diversion along Denham and Dudley Streets in Bondi, which was removed from the 380 in 2002.

Route 382 is a variant of the 381, consisting of Friday night workings between Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction along Bondi Road, in lieu of the Denham and Dudley Streets diversion, This service also provides extra services during the Spring and Summer times especially during special events at Bondi Beach.

Route 333 is State Transits first 'Prepay Only' limited stops service which parallels the 380. It was introduced in 2006 and is operated by articulated buses based in Waverley bus depot. Passengers are required to purchase tickets before boarding the bus in order to reduce loading times and speed up the service. Buses serving route 333 are outfitted with special removable "prepay only" signage. The 333 replaced many of the timetable's 380 services. Passengers paying cash extend loading times significantly, and 380 passengers, many of them tourists, are twice as likely to use cash. Former Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales chief Ken Dobinson told the Sydney Morning Herald that the cashless bus route was a "half measure" and suggested that cashless routes would be used to improve bus performance while the city waited for the overdue Tcard system to be implemented.

Route X84 is an express bus route operating between North Bondi and Bondi Junction, travelling along Curlewis Street and Old South Head Road in lieu of Bondi Road. Several trips towards Bondi Junction operate on weekday mornings, and several trips operate the reverse journey in the evenings. This route was previously numbered 384 from its inception in 1979 until 1990 when it was renumbered X84. On September 2008 This is now Pre-Pay only so no tickets are sold on this service.

Inner West and Inner South West services (400 series)

Services in the Inner West district and part of the St George area of Sydney are numbered in the 400 series, and connect these suburbs and the central business district. There are 70 routes are numbered 400 through 499. Express and limited-stops services are also provided. Much of the network in the Inner West is modelled on Sydney's former tram network, closed in 1961 in favour of a commuter bus system. 400 series services are operated by Sydney Buses, Punchbowl Bus Company, and Veolia. Bus-rail interchanges are provided at Hurstville station, Rockdale station and Strathfield station. Bus-only lanes are in operation on Parramatta Road from Leichhardt to Broadway.

North-Western Suburbs services (500 series)

Services connecting Sydney's Northern Suburbs, upper North Shore regions, and the central business district are numbered in the 500 series. Fifty-nine routes are numbered 500 through 597. Express and limited-stops services are also provided.

Much of the network is modelled on Sydney's former tram network, closed in 1961 in favour of a commuter bus system. 500 series services are operated by Sydney Buses from a depot at Ryde, and Shorelink from a depot at Mount Ku-ring-gai. Acquisitions in the 1990s saw Sydney Buses expand its presence in this region significantly.

Bus interchanges are located at Hornsby and West Ryde railway stations, Blaxland Road, Top Ryde, and at Parramatta. Victoria Road, the key link between Ryde and the city, has Transit Lanes in both directions. A proposal to change these to bus-only lanes is under consideration.

Hills District services (600 series)

Services connecting Sydney's Hills District with Parramatta and the city are numbered in the 600 series. A small number of 600 series bus routes (routes 688 to 698) are operated in the Blue Mountains and the Penrith area by the Blue Mountains Bus Company. Approximately 82 routes are numbered 600 through 698.

600 series services are operated by Hillsbus, Westbus, Hawkesbury Valley Buses and the Blue Mountains Bus Company.

Hillsbus also operates high frequency Metrobus services within the area, connecting Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills with Hornsby and Parramatta (route M60), and Sydney CBD (route M61).

Many suburbs in this area are served by the North-West T-way, a bus rapid transit service operated by Busways and Hillsbus. Bus-only lanes have recently been added to Epping Road as part of the Lane Cove Tunnel roadworks.

City "X" services operate via the Lane Cove Tunnel. They do not stop along Epping Road and mainly run during peak hours.

Outer Western services (700 series)

Services connecting Sydney's western suburbs and the Hills District with Blacktown, Castle Hill, Mount Druitt, Parramatta, St Marys and Penrith are numbered in the 700 series. Seventy routes are numbered in the 700 series. 700 series services are operated by Busways, Hillsbus and Westbus.

The Western Sydney bus network operates from interchanges at Blacktown, Mount Druitt, Parramatta and Penrith. For information regarding services north and east of Blacktown that connect with Rouse Hill and Castle Hill please refer to the North-West T-way article.

South Western Suburbs services (800 series)

Services connecting Sydney's south-west are numbered in the 800 series. Forty-one south western routes are provided. 800 series services are operated by Busabout, Busways, Interline, Metro-Link and Westbus.

Bus transport in the area began in 1934 with a single bus service linking Liverpool and Green Valley. Today's 41 routes serve a denser, more urban region. Significant change for the region's bus network came with the Unsworth bus reforms. Initiated in 2004, these changes have put pressure on private bus operators to consolidate or co-operate in order to service amalgamated operating regions.

Busabout and Interline have announced their plans to bid jointly to provide services in the area. For its part, Westbus parent ComfortDelGro Cabcharge, has lately acquired a number of smaller operators, including routes 810 through 815 from Baxter's Bus Lines.

Campbelltown City Council facilitates a community public transport forum, which allows community leaders and council to liaise directly with bus operators, CityRail and the Roads & Traffic Authority. The council and community groups have distributed 90,000 Macarthur Transport Info Cards, providing information on local public transport options.

The south-western bus network operates from interchanges at Liverpool, Campbelltown interchange and Macarthur Square shopping centre. Many suburbs in this area are served by the Liverpool-Parramatta T-way, a bus rapid transit service operated by Western Sydney Buses. The region is not presently served by significant bus-only lane infrastructure.

Southern Suburbs services (900 series)

Services connecting Sydney's southern suburbs (Part of the St George area, the Sutherland Shire and parts of the Bankstown and Liverpool areas) are numbered in the 900 series. Around 60 routes are numbered 900 through 996. Express and limited-stops services are also provided.

900 series services are operated by BusLink, Maianbar and Bundeena Bus Service, Punchbowl Bus Company and Veolia.

List of bus routes

List of 10-90 series bus routes
List of 100 series bus routes
List of 200 Series bus routes
List of 300 Series bus routes
List of 400 series bus routes
List of 500 Series bus routes
List of 600 Series bus routes
List of 700 Series bus routes
List of 800 Series bus routes
List of 900 Series bus routes

See also

References

  1. ^ Besser, L.Stand and deliver:How buses will bend the rules, Sydney Morning Herald 14 October 2008.
  2. ^ Travers, G. The NSW Government Bus- a 75th Anniversary. The Sydney Bus and Truck Museum, 2007.
  3. ^ News. State Transit, accessed 8 July 2008

External links

Commuter rail
(CityRail)
Regional rail
Commuter bus
(Buses in Sydney)
Bus routes in Sydney · Metrobus · NightRide · Liverpool-Parramatta T-way · North-West T-way
Regional bus
Ferry
Other