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

Finish The Missing Links In the M2 Bus Transitways

It has been brought to the attention of WSPTU members by bus commuters, local people and bus operators, that the bus transitway on the M2 into the city is missing about 5klms of clearway. This means that the bus has to merge into the traffic created by the cars. This is particularly a problem during peak hour when the traffic is moving very slowly.
One suggestion proposed is that, in the places where there is no bus transitway, the breakdown lane be converted to a multipurpose lane which is used as a bus transitway during the peak hours. In the other times it could remain as a breakdown lane. This would improve the service of the bus transitway from the North West into the city.

New M2 Services to the City from the Hills

Four extra Hillsbus services would operate on the M2 every weekday from today, bringing relief to passengers travelling from the North West to the City and North Sydney.
See the Minister's media release here:
http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news/releases/090713-North-West-Buses.pdf