The Tourism and Transport Forum supports more double-decker buses, with a franchising plan
March 27, 2013
While the Tourism and Transport Forum has backed the NSW government’s decision to run regular double decker buses across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it has also called on greater franchising of Sydney’s bus fleet.
TTF Acting Chief Executive Officer Trent Zimmerman says the franchising of buses is another way that public transport can not only recover its costs but also deliver a more customer-focused service.
“It’s encouraging to see the NSW government continuing to deliver innovative transport solutions for Sydney,” he says.
“The planned light rail network, the north-west rail link and Sydney’s new opal card are all great initiatives, but the work is not done.”
What appears to be ‘fait accompli’ is the commissioning of more double deckers buses, built by Bustech in Queensland, and gradually entering service in Sydney’s northern suburbs over coming months.
“Bus traffic is contributing to congestion in Sydney’s CBD so using double decker buses which can carry twice as many passengers as normal buses will make the bus fleet more efficient and potentially cut bus congestion in half,” Zimmerman says.
“Double decker buses carry 110 passengers, twice as many as a normal bus and also take up less space on the road and at bus stops.
“More than 1600 buses arrive in the Sydney CBD during the two hour morning peak, and it’s clear something must be done to make the current system more efficient.”
Zimmerman says the double-deckered initiative follows a recent request from NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian to re-route 60 morning peak buses down the Cahill Expressway to ease pressure at George and York Streets in Sydney’s CBD.