The NSW government has committed $452 million in the 2025–26 State Budget to overhaul and expand bus services across Sydney and regional New South Wales, aiming to deliver more routes, buses, and better connections for growing communities.
The investment will fund the creation of new services, expand existing routes, and reinstate services cut by the former government, addressing what the government describes as a “chronic shortage” on key routes.
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“We have heard the message loud and clear that more buses and more bus services are needed in Sydney and regional NSW. This $150 million additional investment delivers on both counts,” transport minister John Graham says.
“We are providing new and expanded services, as well as more school bus services, in the fastest growing regions of our state where often housing has outpaced the provision of public transport.”
A key part of the plan includes $56 million to purchase 50 new articulated or ‘bendy’ buses, targeting capacity issues on some of Sydney’s busiest routes, including Ryde, Epping, Lane Cove, the Eastern Suburbs and the Northern Beaches.
The government noted that no articulated buses were purchased by the previous government in its 12 years in power.
The 50 new bendy buses will be produced by Scania and Volgren, with the chassis built overseas and the bus bodies assembled in Australia to meet a 50 per cent local content target.
New school bus services and expanded timetables will also be rolled out in South-Western and North-Western Sydney, the Illawarra, Central Coast, South Coast, and the Hunter, supported by a $26 million spend on new buses.
New connections are planned between Macarthur Heights and Macarthur Station, and from Wilton to Campbelltown.
The government will also restore the direct bus link between Parramatta and the CBD via Ryde, which was cut in 2021, by expanding the 500X service.
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says the investment supports the government’s goal to “deliver better connected communities”.
“We’re rebuilding services between Parramatta and the city for thousands of commuters, and delivering better connections for growing regions from the Hunter to the Illawarra,” Mookhey says.
Regional NSW will also see upgrades, including better access to health facilities, new weekend services to boost tourism, improved school buses, and cross-border connectivity with Queensland and Victoria.
“This Budget puts regional communities at the heart of transport planning,” roads and regional transport minister Jenny Aitchison says.
“We’re not just putting buses on roads, we’re building stronger, better-connected communities across regional NSW.”
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