The NSW government says the new services in Orange will also be complemented by a rare first for local residents
The New South Wales government says it plans to roll out more than 200 additional weekly bus services across Orange from September 12, including Sunday services for the first time.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway says a new timetable and routes will provide Orange residents and visitors with better connectivity and increased services at off-peak times and on weekends.
“The NSW government is focused on delivering a public transport network that meets the specific needs of the local community, so we spent time talking to residents to find out what they wanted,” Farraway says.
“We listened and will deliver an extra 200 bus services each week for Orange, which is a 30 per cent increase.
“The improved bus routes and timetables will make a tangible difference to everyday life for the community, providing people with new travel options and flexibility to get to school, work, shops and to access essential services.”
Farraway says the new services form part of the government’s 16 regional cities services improvement program, which has already seen more than 2300 additional weekly bus services introduced to regional areas since 2019.
“This is an increase of more than 25 per cent to the existing bus networks within these 16 cities, with more expected soon,” Farraway says.
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“On the same day the new bus services are rolled out, customers will also be able to start tracking bus services in real time.
“The installation of real-time tracking technology on more than 40 Orange buses is underway, ready for use from September 12.”
The changes being implemented from September 12 will see more frequent services to key destinations including Orange Hospital, Orange Railway Station, Orange CBD, TAFE, North Orange Shops and Charles Sturt University (Orange Campus).
The new bus routes will travel through the Orange CBD, removing the need for customers to change bus routes to travel between north Orange and south Orange.
They will also provide frequent timetable services every 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, and every hour on Sundays.
These changes are on top of 39 additional local bus services announced last July that are already being used by residents.