NSW In Focus 65 New Buses, new bus routes & 36 Transport Interchange Upgrades - NSW NOW!

I just received an e-mail from the New South Wales Government titled 'NSW in Focus' - which sounds good - sounds like it wasn't in focus for  over 200 years. I have learnt it is from NOW NSW 

It is providing updates on various progress works that is happening

within  New South Wales.  In future we will provide updates  in relation to public transport from here on, to keep you all informed.

Here are the improvements involving Western Sydney Public Transport:

$92 Million For Over 200 New Buses And 10 New Routes 

The NSW Government has committed more than $90 million to fund over 200 new buses in 2013-14, including 65 new buses for Western Sydney.

There will also be 10 new routes introduced across Sydney, Western Sydney, the Hunter and the Illawarra as part of the Growth Bus Program.

The NSW Government has added more than 2,800 additional weekly bus services since 2011, and this year’s investment continues to build on that.

Transport Interchange Upgrades At 36 Key Locations

The NSW Government is upgrading 36 key transport interchanges across the state – investing almost $40 million to make public transport safer and easier to use.

Interchanges need to be well lit, secure, sign-posted, protected from the elements and easy for people to navigate.

These latest upgrades include better drop off and pick up areas (called kiss and ride zones), improved lighting, signs, infrastructure, bike facilities and shelters.

Let us know if you have had new buses in your area in Western Sydney or  even if your transport interchange is being upgraded!

Community Cabinet Visit -Western Sydney Stake Holder Meeting at Penrith Panthers!

This is to inform Western Sydney Commuters o f a NSW Community Cabinet Meeting to be held at Penrith Panthers 123 Mulgoa Road, Penrith NSW, 6.30 pm - 8 pm.

This is not based on only public transport, yet it is a good opportunity for us to push for improvements in public transport in the Greater Western Sydney. A lot of areas are crying out for improved public transport as we all cater for a rising population and  a push for median density housing in Local Government Areas around the Western Sydney. 

Don't miss out! Even if you live in Liverpool, Blacktown, Parramatta, Richmond, Auburn, Bankstown, Camden, Rouse Hill and any other area in Western Sydney.

So if you would like to come along to this event - all you will need to do is respond to the R.S.V.P. by sending e-mail to:
communitycabinet@dpc.nsw.gov.au

After this meeting you e-mail/ contact us to give us your feedback!

Interesting Parking at Bankstown Station

This Is a Bus Stop In Western Sydney Where Even Young Lovers Can Use The Bus Shelter Seats Economically!

At least  for one of them the seat is warm!

Southwest LInk Community Meetings & Updates

Checkout dates for South West Rail Link Community Sessions:

Click here

Announcement of New Bus Contracts

This could be very important for people in Greater Western Sydney.

Transport for NSW has announced the successful tenders for the bus contracts in several regions including Region 1 (Penrith to Blacktown) and Region 3 (Liverpool, Fairfield, Holroyd).

Busways was successful for Region 1 and Transit Systems Australia was successful in Region 3. Busways www.busways.com.au is well known to people in Region 1 but the other existing service providers, Westbus and Hawkesbury Valley Buses, appear to have missed out on contracts in Region 1.

The new contract for Region 3 has gone to Transit Systems Australia. They seems to be a new business in Western Sydney http://www.transitsystems.com.au/overview . Previously Region 3 was operated by a consortium of MetroLink, Busabout, Hopkinsons and Westbus. It's unknown what will happen with those businesses. http://www.a3mc.com.au/

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/new-bus-contracts-benefit-customers-and-taxpayers

'The Rabbit Hole' UWS Students Design Team

Thanks to students from the design team at the Rabbithole at UWS. They devised the WSPTU website just over a year ago - and we have had a lot of  great feedback from people visiting our website. Here they get a great mention in the local paper.

For the full story click here

Will The North West Rail Link Be Operated By The Private Sector?

The Hills Transport Working Group have made a media release regarding the privatisation of the North West Rail Link. Here's an excerpt:

The Hills Transport Working Group today issued a ‘please explain’ to the NSW Minister for Transport, Ms Gladys Berejiklian, after a leaked internal memo from Mr. Rob Mason the CEO of RailCorp reveals that “a private sector entity will design, construct, commission, operate and maintain the North West rail link including rail and tunnel systems, track, structures and stations for a period of 20 to 30 years” under an “access model”.

The Hills Transport Working Group has previously warned that an airport link-style private operator and station access model on the North West Rail Link could see North West residents paying as much as $20 extra per trip.

For the full release click here.

Wrong Report About Rail Crime Stats

This media release is from the Bureau of Crime Statistics. Media release date: 13 December 2011.

Claims last night by Channel Nine that up to 10 per cent of reports of crime on the rail system are simply ‘disappearing’ are completely false, the Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research said today.

“Police are fully entitled to reject a reported crime if they have reason to believe the report is not genuine (e.g. CCTV footage shows the alleged incident did not take place).”

“The Bureau conducts regular audits of all NSW Police crime data, looking for any evidence that police are improperly rejecting crimes reported to them. The results of these audits are always made public. Click here for the most recent audit findings and our audit processes.

“When Channel Nine’s Kelvin Bissett contacted the Bureau seeking information on crimes on the rail system rejected by police, he was provided with data showing that the overall rejection rate for crimes reported on the rail system was just 3.3 percent.”

“The rejection rate for sexual assault was much higher (15 per cent) but the numbers were quite small; three reports being rejected out of a total of 20 for the entire year.”

“Channel Nine ignored all this and proceeded to make completely unfounded
allegations to the effect that records of crime on the rail system reported to police were being hidden or destroyed.”

“There was and is no evidence that police have been hiding or destroying reports of crime to make the problem of crime on the rail system appear less serious than it is. The story on rail violence by Channel Nine was an example of tabloid journalism at its worst.”

Don Weatherburn

Local Success - Return of Bus in North St Marys

Some local people in North St Marys have worked hard to convince planners and transport providers that they needed an additional service in North St Marys to ensure they were getting adequate access to their local buses. It is a big win for local people who were having trouble using the buses after the changes brought by the bus network review a couple of years ago.
"We've had a letter box drop telling us that we're going to get a bus back commencing 21 December along the same route as before.It'll be the 782E," says local campaigner Patricia Guy.
Click here for the full story.

Update on Warwick Farm Carpark

Here are some comments from WSPTU bloggers regarding the Warwick Farm CityRail Commuter Carpark. Note that this commenter tells us you can be fined for not parking in the correct spaces in the carpark. It is worth noting that the Liverpool Hospital is improving parking and access for staff at the hospital so that may reduce pressure on the Commuter Carpark.

Comments:

Anonymous said...
With this car park so close the Liverpool Hospital and free. I expect most of the car spots to be taken up by hospital staff members. It's already hard to find parking near the hospital and the hospital has expanded. So unfortunately, get there early to find parking in this new car park because I think by about 8.30am, all spots will be taken.

February 22, 2011 3:20 PM
Anonymous said...
Spend a fortune on a car park to a station they have reduced peak hour afternoon services to , make you get of at cabramatta or liverpool and backtrack, the train stops at every station from the city except warwick farm.

March 2, 2011 3:13 PM
Anonymous said...
As every spot was taken outside the carpark where I usually park I ventured into the new multi storey free one. Had to go to top floor where there were still no spaces but cars were parking along one side of the one way lanes and we assumed this was OK as it is a free carpark and no lanes were blocked.
I received a fine as did the other cars in the aisles, they have SDRO on them. Any way I can appeal.

November 17, 2011 7:29 PM

Sydney Alliance Moves Ahead With Improved Public Transport - AT Transport Assembly

Yesterday, the Sydney Alliance Transport Assembly was something new that made me feel fantastic. As being one of the organisers of the "Welcoming' at Penrith Station with bagpie. All member organisations started to arrive at the Train Station, with welcome and hello from people not seen before but were there for the same theme and reason for a better and improved public transport using the formula 400:15:1 SCA squared.

As all participants met members of the NSW Parliament, accompanied by member of the Sydney( from their electoral office) at Penrith Station and from here with a Scottish bagpiper and a traditional Aboriginal smoking welcome ceremony, walking way to the Joan Sutherland Q Theatre. I even spoke to Wayne Purcill City Rail Western Line making connections to improve train infrastructure on the the Western Line.

From here there testimonies of transport issues raise with a nurse at Nepean Hospital and others raise their alarm at similar situation. Individual transport surveys completed by members of the public on trains  and before the assembly started Also there was  support groups, religious and union who has back the Sydney Alliance Transport formula and finally commitment from the parliamentarians to look at meeting the formula - below is a map of the formula , shown in different diversity of efficient transport around Sydney:

Top picture is all services over 400metres radius, The second one  is 30 minutes or less service and 400 metres radius to nearest service and the bottom one is 15 minutes or less with 400 metre radiusNB: Nearest service includes bus stops and trains!

Here are picture from Penrith Station to the Transport Assembly:

I had heard it was an overall fantastic event - never been done before in Sydney. For further information of Sydney Alliance click here: http://www.sydneyalliance.org.au/

Lidcombe Turnback Now Operating

It was interesting to see the Lidcombe turnback operating. This allows additional services to come in from the South Line and the Western Line without continuing on into the city.
As you can see from the photo, some of the signage is still a bit temporary to help people with the new platform.

Ooops. Shunting Crash In Train Yards

Daily Telegraph

Minister Announces Change to Penrith Shuttle Bus Route

This is great news for Sue Day and the people in the South Penrith Residents Action Group who have been asking for a change to the Shuttle route to make it more useful for local people.
http://www.westernweekender.com.au/index.php/local-news-content/134-shuttle-bus-re-route

Excess Demand on the T80 Bus Transitway Service Into Parramatta

This comment from the WSPTU Facebook group:
Something has to be done about the number of buses running on the T80 during the morning peak. I feel sorry for all the commuters that have to either stand for the entire journey or watch one full bus after another travel past their stop!

Bus Issues For North-West Rail Link Requested!

Edward, from Stanhope  Gardens, a young gentleman  that travelling with me home today advised that although he hasn't seen the proposal for the North West Rail Link - he would need to travel by car to Rouse Hill train Station, unless the NSW Government places more frequent bus services on the T-Way between Blacktown to Rouse Hill. Currently he catches trains to Blacktown so the He finds the North West Rail Link will provide him with better service


My comment is that if he goes onto the North West Rail Link website on the following:

.http://northwestrail.com.au

he will find there is a closer train station at 'Samantha Riley Drive' nearer to his home.

On this train link, I personally would like to see it linked to  Riverstone/ Schofields train stations - so there could be more trains looping around!

NSW Budget 2011/12

The NSW Budget was delivered this week and was the first budget since the change of Government last March. Here are the transport highlights taken from the Budget papers:
Rail Services
$314 million to develop the 23-kilometre North West Rail Link
$292 million to continue the $2.1 billion South West Rail Link
$103 million to expand light rail in central Sydney and the inner west, integrating it with other forms of transport
$51 million to start building the Wynyard Walk
$159 million for the Country Regional Network
$198 million for the Rail Clearways Program
$106 million to improve infrastructure to meet the needs of new Waratah trains
$152 million to buy and upgrade rollingstock
$7.5 million for a new program to boost Easy Access upgrades and $22.5 million on programmed Easy Access station upgrades
$16.9 million as part of an increased commitment to spend $40 million over four years for Park and Travel Safety improvements
$102 million over four years to provide more express rail services
$2 million to conduct a study of North Coast rail services.
Bus Services
purchase 261 new buses, worth $118.8 million
$45 million for new bus depots
$7.6 million over four years to increase Nightride bus services
$9.2 million over four years to continue support for free bus services
$3 million for studies into a bus rapid transit system for the northern beaches.
Ferry Services
continuing the Fixing Sydney Ferries program, by franchising Sydney Ferries, restoring and expanding services, upgrading wharves and looking at fleet replacement an additional $7.5 million over four years to improve ferry wharves.
Transport Interchanges and Commuter Car Parks
$76 million on interchanges and car parks.
Ticketing, Concessions and Community Transport
$110 million to deliver a fast, convenient and integrated electronic ticketing system for greater Sydney
providing concession schemes for pensioners, tertiary students, people with disabilities and others using public transport, estimated at $438 million
subsidising travel under the School Student Transport Scheme, estimated at $550 million
an extra $12 million over four years to boost community transport services
$1.6 million over four years to deliver free seniors’ photo cards to eligible Seniors Card holders and older people receiving a disability support pension.
You can find a link to the budget overview here . And for the keen people a link to all the budget papers here.
WSPTU will provide some commentary over the next few weeks.

Last Chance to Register for the Transport Symposium Tomorrow

There are only 5 places left for the WSPTU Transport Symposium which is on tomorrow at the Dooley's Club in Lidcome, tomorrow, Saturday August 13 from 10.30 to 4pm.

Guest Speakers:
Professor Corinne Mulley - Institute of Transport and Logistics
David Borger - Former Minister for Roads and Lord Mayor of Parramatta
Stuart Palmer - Premier Cabs
Amy Williams - Sydney Alliance
Philippa Vale - South West Community Transport

The headline topics are:
Free Shuttle Buses - are they useful and how can people contribute to their evaluation?
Shared Taxis - can shared taxis be used as part of the public transport mix?

Plus the opportunity to meet local people who are interested to improve public transport in their local area. Register now, it's free!

WSPTU Symposium - More Details On Public Public Transport

Check out this story  from the Mount Druitt - St Marys Standard, further info:
http://mountdruittcommuters.blogspot.com/2011/08/understanding-of-transport-system-wsptu.html