Suburban bus routes in Sydney

Suburban bus routes

Overview
Owner	Transport for NSW
Locale	Sydney, Australia
Transit type	Bus
Number of lines	9
Operation
Began operation	2013
Operator(s)	Forest Coach Lines Punchbowl Bus Company State Transit Transdev NSW

Suburban bus routes form a network of cross-regional bus routes in Sydney, Australia. Nine suburban routes were identified within the existing bus network as part of the New South Wales Government's Sydney's Bus Future plan in 2013. Eleven further routes were listed for future development.^[1]

Suburban routes are characterised by:

• both timetabled and high-frequency 'turn up and go' services
• stops every 400 metres – similar spacing to conventional services
• targeted bus priority measures at pinch points.

Randwick to City (372–7)

Operated by State Transit. These services will be substantially replaced by the new CBD & South East Light Rail.

Bondi Junction to Burwood (400)

Introduced in the 1990s and operated by State Transit, the 400 was one of Sydney's first true cross-regional services. It is also one of the only route bus services serving Sydney Airport.

Belrose to City

Sydney's Forest District was, in the early 20th century, a sparsely populated semi-rural area. Poor-quality roads and an explicit government policy of barring privately operated buses from the central business district meant that public transport consisted only of bus services to the nearest railway station, at Chatswood. Journey times on this early route were markedly improved with the completion of the new Roseville Bridge between the Forest District and North Shore in 1966. As the bridge neared completion, the local bus operator, Forest Coach Lines, proposed a direct bus service from Terrey Hills to the City. The Government demurred, preferring to keep privately operated buses from competing with the railways. This decision was overturned in 1992, when Forest was given permission to establish route 270. The service, which commenced operation on 27 July, runs from the industrial area at Terrey Hills, along Forest Way, Warringah Road, Eastern Valley Way and the Warringah Expressway to the City.^[2]

When bus contract region 14 was established in May 2007, route 270 was included in it.^[3] The contract went to competitive tender and, in early 2013, Forest was confirmed as the operator.^[4] Sydney's Bus Future identified the corridor from Belrose, south of Terrey Hills on Forest Way, to the City as a key suburban route in 2013.^[1]

Hurstville to Burwood via Roselands (450)

Operated by Punchbowl Bus Company.

Liverpool to Burwood (M90)

Operated by Transdev.

Parramatta to Burwood via Newington (525)

Operated by State Transit.

Bondi Junction to Burwood via Sydenham (418)

Operated by State Transit.

Chatswood to Manly via Frenchs Forest (136)

Operated by State Transit.

Miranda to Hurstville (970)

Operated by Transdev.

Future routes

Sydney's Bus Future identified a further 11 corridors to be upgraded with suburban routes in future:^[1]

• Penrith – Rouse Hill via Schofields and Marsden Park
• Marsden Park – Prairiewood via Western Sydney Employment Area and Mount Druitt
• Liverpool – Camden via Oran Park and Leppington
• Miranda – Bankstown via Sutherland and Menai
• Chatswood – Airport via Sydney CBD and Botany Road
• Lane Cove – Eastgardens via Sydney CBD, Surry Hills and Botany Road
• Hurstville – Sydney CBD via Earlwood and Newtown (King Street)
• Burwood – Chatswood via Drummoyne and Lane Cove
• Bankstown – Blacktown via Fairfield and Wetherill Park
• Penrith – Mount Druitt via Werrington and Great Western Highway
• Bondi Junction – Miranda via Airport and Eastgardens

References