Northern CBD bus improvements

TfNSW consulted with the community regarding the project through October/November 2012.  All customer feedback was considered during this consultation process.

For more information, see the Northern CBD bus improvements flyer (pdf 1.1MB).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is changing?

During the morning peak times of 6am and 10am, Monday to Friday, a number of bus services currently travelling along the Sydney Harbour Bridge to York Street in the CBD from the Hills District will be redirected along the Cahill Expressway and into Bridge Street.

All services travelling to the CBD, arriving after 10am remain unchanged.

All services travelling from the CBD to the North West remain unchanged.

What bus routes are affected?

The services that are diverting in the Morning Peak are the 620/620X Dural Bus Depot and Cherrybrook to City, 642/642X Round Corner Dural to City, 650/650X and 652X West Pennant Hills to City.

When will my bus route change?

Services will commence the diversion via the Cahill Expressway from 18 February 2013.

What are the new drop-off locations for Dural services?

Buses diverted via the Cahill Expressway will operate via Bridge, Pitt, Hunter and Castlereagh Streets and terminate on Market Street. Buses will set down passengers at existing bus stops located at:

• Bridge Street (between Loftus and Gresham Streets) (200096)
• Pitt Street (between Bridge Street and Spring Street) (200076)
• Castlereagh Street (at Martin Place) (2000183)
• Market Street (between Castlereagh Street and Pitt Street, opposite Westfield) (2000155)

Where is my closest connecting service?

Customers alighting on Bridge Street are able to walk to Circular Quay Station (approximately 300 metres) for connecting CityRail services on the City Circle to all CBD stations, and also connecting services on the Bankstown, Inner West, Airport and East Hills, and South lines. Customers alighting at Pitt Street can walk to Wynyard Station (approximately 400 metres) for CityRail services on the North Shore, Western and Northern Lines, or transfer to Sydney Buses routes 422, 423, 426 and 428 for travel to Railway Square available from the Pitt Street bus stop. Customers alighting at Martin Place can connect to CityRail services on the Illawarra and Eastern Suburbs Lines.

Will the timetable change?

The timetable will be updated to include the diversion via the Cahill Expressway, and also to reflect a more accurate journey time. This timetable will aim to ensure that services adhere to the scheduled travel times on a more reliable basis.
As a result of this timetable revision, your departure time may be affected. Service hours and frequencies will however remain the same.  For detailed trip planning information and connecting services, please visit www.131500.com.au. New timetables will also be available online and in print versions for customers.

What impact will this change have on my journey time?

Transport for NSW analysis indicates that the average walk time for customers will depend on the destination of the particular individual. Whilst some customers will have a slightly increased walk time, others will have a reduced walk time. It is anticipated that customers will have a more reliable journey into the city.

Why has TfNSW chosen these routes to be redirected?

Transport for NSW wanted to ensure the changes could be easily communicated to one group of travellers coming into the city from the north. This group of buses provides for enough morning peak services to start tackling congestion in the city's north without placing undue pressure on the affected streets.

I travel to the southern end of the CBD and currently interchange using a Hillsbus transfer ticket. How do I get to my destination?

Transport for NSW has organised, in partnership with Sydney Buses and Hillsbus, to allow Dural bus customers to transfer to Newtown bus services (routes 422, 423, 426, and 428) at no additional cost. This arrangement applies for Dural customers travelling inbound to the southern CBD between the hours of 6am and 10am only. Customers will be able to use their current transfer ticket issued by Hillsbus to board Newtown bus services at the Pitt bus stop to travel to the southern CBD, including Railway Square.

How do I interchange and will I incur an additional cost?

Customers simply need to show their transfer ticket to the Sydney Buses driver to board the bus. Customers will not be required to dip their ticket and will therefore incur no additional charge. The Newtown services operate at a 3-4 minute frequency during the AM peak period, and therefore customers will not need to wait long for a connecting service.

Where will I catch my bus in the afternoon?

All services travelling from the CBD to the North West remain unchanged. These services will continue to depart from Bathurst Street and Clarence Street from existing stops.

Are there any plans for extra services on the affected bus routes?

Funding has been allocated by the NSW Government for 27 new buses for Hillsbus this financial year to improve service frequency, reduce travel times and increase seating availability on a number of the highest demand routes from the area. There are plans for some of these additional buses to operate on the Dural routes.

The funding is made available under the Growth Buses Program and is about providing additional bus services, where and when our customers need them to make journeys easier, faster and more comfortable.

What plans are in place to ensure I understand the changes to bus routes?

Wayfinding staff will be allocated to selected bus stops to assist passengers with any questions they may have and direct passengers to the quickest route to reach their destination. TfNSW will provide information about the changes via a number of outlets including www.131500.com.au. New timetables will also be available online and in print versions for customers.

How does this fit in with the Long Term Transport Master Plan?

This initiative is incorporated as a key early action to relieve congestion in the CBD as part of the Long Term Transport Master Plan. For more information, please visit the NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan website.

For further information, please contact northerncbdbuses@transport.nsw.gov.au or telephone 1800 445 800. Information will also be available on www.131500.com.au.