Metrobus (Sydney)

Metrobus
Overview
Owner Transport for NSW
Locale Sydney
Transit type Bus rapid transit
Number of lines 13
Operation
Began operation 12 October 2008
Operator(s)

Metrobus is an Australian high frequency, high capacity bus network in Sydney that links key employment and growth centres. Metrobuses run every 10 minutes during peak periods, 15 minutes during off-peak weekday periods, and 20 minutes on weekends, with the intention of making timetables obsolete. Buses are painted in a distinctive red livery and all Metrobuses are wheelchair accessible. All route numbers are prefixed with an "M" followed by 2 numbers. Under a planned standardisation of transport modes by Transport for NSW, the "M" prefix will be changed to "B".[1] Also, according to "Sydney Bus Future" published by Transport for NSW in December 2013, it is planned that some of the Metrobuses will upgraded to Rapid bus routes or converted to major Suburban routes.[2]

History

Metrobus blade stop sign at Chester Hill with the name of the stop and a red lower section indicating that the stop is served by Metrobuses

The network originally operated along bus trunk routes through the inner suburbs, but passed through the CBD rather than terminating there. This reduced overcrowding on the trunk routes without needing to layover extra buses in the CBD. This concept was later diluted with the network's expansion to include long distance routes servicing major activity centres in outer suburbs.

The first route, M10 from Leichhardt to Kingsford, began operation on a 12-month trial basis on 12 October 2008.[3] During this period nine regular and six high-capacity buses with different seating arrangements were dedicated to the route.[4]

In March 2009 an expansion of the Metrobus network with the addition of four further routes serving the inner suburbs (M20, M30, M40, M50) was announced.[5]

In July 2010 it was announced a further eight new Metrobus routes were to be rolled out in 2011 to service suburbs in Sydney's west, north, north-west, south and south-west (M41, M52, M54, M60, M61, M90, M91, M92).[6] This saw Hillsbus and Veolia Transport (now Transdev NSW) become Metrobus operators.

Operational history
Date Event
12 Oct 2008 M10 commences
26 Oct 2009 M20 commences
28 Mar 2010 M30 commences
18 Jul 2010 M40 commences
8 Aug 2010 M52 commences
10 Oct 2010 M54 commences
31 Oct 2010 M50 commences
6 Dec 2010 M90 commences
19 Dec 2010 M41 commences
20 Dec 2010 M61 commences
7 Feb 2011 M91 commences
7 Mar 2011 M60 commences
14 Mar 2011 M92 commences

Tickets & fares

Metrobus services are integrated with the MyZone system. All Sydney Buses Metrobus services use the Automated Fare Collection System to validate tickets. Metrobus routes M10, M20, M30, M40 and M50 are full-time pre-pay only services and require passengers to purchase a ticket before boarding. All Metrobus routes are also Opal active.

Routes

M10: Leichhardt to Maroubra Junction

Operated by Sydney Buses

M10 runs from Leichhardt to Maroubra Junction via Parramatta Road, Town Hall station and Anzac Parade, and commenced on 12 October 2008. The M10 Metrobus service connects with Sydney Trains stations at Central, Town Hall and Museum. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Broadway, Railway Square, Queen Victoria Building, Cleveland Street, and Kingsford.

On 28 December 2008, the M10 was curtailed to Leichhardt Town Hall no longer operating to MarketPlace due to issues raised by Leichhardt Council regarding buses laying over in Lords Road. On 14 November 2010 the M10 was extended to the corner of Norton and William Streets at Leichhardt Pioneer Park. On 26 October 2009, the M10 was extended from Kingsford to Maroubra Junction.

M20: Gore Hill to Botany

Operated by Sydney Buses

M20 runs from Gore Hill to Botany via Pacific Highway, Town Hall station and Botany Road, and commenced on 26 October 2009. The M20 metrobus service connects with Sydney Trains stations at Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, North Sydney and St Leonards. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Railway Square, Queen Victoria Building, Wynyard, North Sydney and St Leonards. On 27 February 2011, the M20 was extended from Mascot to Botany shops.[7] Originally meant to operate to Lane Cove.

M30: Mosman to Sydenham

Operated by Sydney Buses

M30 runs from Mosman to Sydenham via Military Road, Town Hall station and King Street, and commenced on 28 March 2010. The M30 connects with Sydney Trains stations at Wynyard, Town Hall, Central, Newtown and Sydenham. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Railway Square, Queen Victoria Building, Wynyard, Neutral Bay Junction, and Spit Junction. This service was originally planned to terninate at Enmore Park although Sydenham was chosen as a more appropriate terminus.

M40: Chatswood to Bondi Junction

Operated by Sydney Buses

M40 runs from Chatswood to Bondi Junction via Willoughby Road, Wynyard station, Town Hall station and Oxford Street, and commenced on 18 July 2010. The M40 connects with Sydney Trains stations at Chatswood, Wynyard, Town Hall, Museum and Bondi Junction stations. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Chatswood, Queen Victoria Building, Wynyard, and Bondi Junction.

M41: Hurstville to Marsfield

Operated by Sydney Buses

M41 runs from Hurstville to Marsfield via Bexley North, Clemton Park, Campsie, Burwood, Concord Hospital, Top Ryde and Macquarie Centre, and commenced on 19 December 2010.[8] The M41 connects passengers to Sydney Trains stations at Hurstville, Bexley North, Campsie, Burwood, Rhodes, Macquarie Park and Macquarie University. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Hurstville, Top Ryde City and Macquarie Centre.

According to "Sydney Bus Future", M41 will be upgraded to a Rapid bus route of the same alignment.[2]

M50: Drummoyne to Coogee

Operated by Sydney Buses

M50 runs from Drummoyne to Coogee via Victoria Road, The Anzac Bridge, CBD, Fox Studios, ANZAC Parade, UNSW, Prince Of Wales Hospital& The Spot, and commenced on 31 October 2010. The M50 connects with Sydney Trains stations at Town Hall, and Museum. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to the Moore Park area. This service was originally planned to terminate at Randwick although Coogee Beach was decided to be a more appropriate terminus.

M52: Parramatta to Circular Quay

Operated by Sydney Buses

M52 runs from Parramatta to Circular Quay via Victoria Road, Top Ryde, Town Hall station and Wynyard station, and commenced on 8 August 2010. The M52 connects passengers to Sydney Trains stations at Parramatta, West Ryde, Town Hall, Wynyard and Circular Quay. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Parramatta, Top Ryde, Queen Victoria Building, Wynyard, and Circular Quay. It has replaced the old L20 route and is supplemented by the 520 route outside of the Metrobus operating hours.

According to "Sydney Bus Future", M52 will be upgraded to a Rapid bus route of the same alignment.[2]

M54: Parramatta to Macquarie Park

Operated by Sydney Buses

M54 runs from Parramatta to Macquarie Park via Carlingford and Epping, and commenced on 10 October 2010. The M54 connects with Sydney Trains stations at Parramatta, Carlingford, Epping, Macquarie University, and Macquarie Park. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Parramatta, Epping, and Macquarie Centre. It replaced the old 548 service.

According to "Sydney Bus Future", M54 will be upgraded to a Rapid bus route of a similar alignment, except for the section between Epping and Carlingford.[2]

M60: Parramatta to Hornsby

Operated by Hillsbus

M60 runs from Parramatta to Hornsby via Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Pennant Hills, Thornleigh and Normanhurst, and commenced on 7 March 2011.[9] It connects with Parramatta, Pennant Hills and Hornsby Sydney Trains stations and other bus services at major interchanges Parramatta, Castle Hill and Hornsby. It replaced daytime 600 services between Parramatta and Castle Hill which operate early morning and late night and one in the afternoon on weekdays and some limited 600 services between Parramatta and Cherrybrook.

According to "Sydney Bus Future", it is likely that part of M60 will be replaced with a Rapid bus route from Hornsby to Blacktown via Castle Hill and T-way, while the remaining of M60 will merge with T80 to form a Rapid bus route from Castle Hill to Liverpool via Parramatta and T-way.[2]

M61: Castle Hill to Railway Square

Operated by Hillsbus

M61 runs from Castle Hill to Railway Square via Baulkham Hills and the M2 Busway and complements the existing 610X service. It commenced on 20 December 2010.[10] The M61 allows passengers to connect with services to Kellyville, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Bella Vista and Stanhope Gardens at bus stops along the M2 Motorway, as well as the Castle Hill Interchange.

According to "Sydney Bus Future", M61 will be upgraded to a Rapid bus route of the same alignment.[2]

M90: Burwood to Liverpool

Veolia Transport Volgren bodied Volvo B7RLE operating a M90 service at Bankstown railway station

Operated by Transdev NSW

M90 runs from Burwood to Liverpool via Strathfield, Chullora, Greenacre, Bankstown, Milperra and Moorebank, and commenced on 6 December 2010.[11] The M90 service replaced the 900 service and connects with Sydney Trains stations at Burwood, Strathfield, Bankstown, and Liverpool.[12] It also allows passengers to transfer to other buses in Burwood, Strathfield, Bankstown and Liverpool. The M90 also connects with the M91 and M92 services at Bankstown and with the Liverpool-Parramatta T-way.

According to "Sydney Bus Future", M90 will be converted to a Suburban bus route of the same alignment.[2]

M91: Parramatta to Hurstville

Operated by Transdev NSW

M91 runs from Parramatta to Hurstville via Granville, chester Hill, Yagoona, Bankstown, Padstow, Peakhurst and Penshurst, and commenced on 7 February 2011.[11] The M91 service replaced the 910 and 948 services and connects with Sydney Trains stations at Parramatta, Granville, Chester Hill, Yagoona, Bankstown, Padstow, and Hurstville. The M91 connects with the M52, M54, M60 and M92 services at Parramatta, the M90 and M92 services at Bankstown and the M41 at Hurstville as well as connecting with local bus services.

According to "Sydney Bus Future", it is likely that M91 will merge with a T-way service (either T65 or T66) to form a Rapid bus route from Rouse Hill to Hurstville via T-way, Parramatta and Bankstown.[2]

M92: Parramatta to Sutherland

Veolia Transport NSW Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B7RLE operating an M92 service to Sutherland at Bankstown railway station

Operated by Transdev NSW

M92 runs from Parramatta to Sutherland via Lidcombe, Bankstown, Padstow and Menai and began 14 March 2011, it marked the last Metrobus route launched to date.[11] it connects with the Sydney Trains stations at Parramatta, Rosehill, Lidcombe, Bankstown, Padstow and Sutherland.

According to "Sydney Bus Future", it is likely that part of M92 and/or 962 will be replaced with a Suburban bus route from Miranda to Bankstown via Sutherland and Menai[2]

Fleet

The Metrobus bus fleet consists of buses sourced from various manufacturers with differing seating arrangements. All Metrobuses have low floor entry, are wheelchair accessible, fully air conditioned and contain digital CCTV surveillance. All are painted in a dedicated red livery although occasionally other buses are used.

Sydney Buses

Sydney Buses Metrobuses are operated from Burwood, Leichhardt, Port Botany, Ryde, Waverley, North Sydney, Willoughby, Randwick and Tempe depots. As at April 2013 the fleet consisted of:[13]

Articulated buses

Sydney Buses Custom Coaches bodied Volvo B12BLEA operating a M10 service in George Street

Rigid buses

Hillsbus

Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B7RLE operated by Hillsbus at Castle Hill bus interchange operating an M60 service to Hornsby

Hillsbus Metrobuses are operated from the Northmead and Foundry Road (Seven Hills) depots.

Transdev NSW

Transdev NSW Metrobuses are operated from the Bankstown, Menai and South Granville depots [14]

References

  1. ↑ Saulwick, Jacob (6 May 2013). "Changing signs of time for commuters". smh.com.au. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Sydney Bus Future December 2013, Transport for NSW, Retrieved on 1 March 2014
  3. ↑ Quarterly Performance Information October-December 2012 State Transit
  4. ↑ "All aboard: super-size buses will leave others standing" Sydney Morning Herald 16 August 2007
  5. ↑ Expansion of Metrobus Network Across Sydney Office of the Premier of New South Wales 25 March 2009
  6. ↑ "Boost for Sydney's red bus network" Sydney Morning Herald 20 July 2010
  7. ↑ Metrobus M20 extended to Botany Shops from 27 February 2011 NSW Transport
  8. ↑ M41 – Hurstville to Macquarie Park starts Sunday, 19 December NSW Transport
  9. ↑ Metrobus M60 ComfortDelGro Cabcharge
  10. ↑ Metrobus M61 ComfortDelGro Cabcharge
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Metrobus Transdev NSW
  12. ↑ Timelines - Sydney Region Route Number System Sydney Private Bus Routes
  13. ↑ State Transit Authority - Metrobus livery Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  14. ↑ Trandev NSW Livery Summary Transdev NSW Fleet List

External links