16 Regional Cities Services Improvement Program

Detailed customer and stakeholder engagement took place in late 2021 and across 2022, including with the Department of Transport Victoria. A period of community consultation also took place in Albury during March 2022. Using this valuable input, our teams were able to prioritise the needs of the local community, and then work with Albury City Council and the bus operators to design a new bus network.

On 25 January 2023 more than 300 new services were introduced to Albury. This included new services to Albury Airport and Albury Station, better connections between Thurgoona, Lavington, Albury and Wodonga and new Sunday and public holiday services.

Visit: https://transportnsw.info/news/2023/better-bus-services-for-albury

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operators:
Dyson Group
Martin’s Albury

Initial improvements to Armidale’s bus network were delivered in November 2020.

Transport for NSW consulted with the Armidale community, including staff and students from the University of New England, in late 2022 and early 2023. Feedback, in relation to issues with the existing bus network, was received from community members as well as 56 stakeholder organisations.

Using this valuable feedback, Transport for NSW gained a clear understanding of the community's transport needs and have worked with Armidale Regional Council and bus operator Edwards Coaches, to review and prioritise the local bus service needs of the community.

In December 2023, a number of wider network changes were made to simplify existing bus routes and timetables. View the detail of these improvements.

Future bus network planning has now been finalised, with implementation subject to future funding decisions.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operator:
Edwards Coaches

Bathurst has more than 500 new additional weekly bus services as part of bus network improvements introduced on 28 June 2021.

There are more peak and weekend services, new express services, and longer operating hours to connect customers to where they need to go. Services also run on Sundays.

The bus network includes better connections with Bathurst CBD, train station and coach stop, Charles Sturt University, TAFE and the hospital.

Growing suburbs including Eglinton, Laffing Waters, Kelso, Windradyne and Llanarth have also received improved services.

Visit: https://transportnsw.info/news/2021/better-bus-services-for-bathurst

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operators:
Newmans Fuels and Buses
Bathurst - Buslines Group

Community consultation took place in Coffs Harbour during September and November 2021. Detailed customer and stakeholder consultation occurred in late 2021 and across 2022. This feedback was considered as the new bus network was developed, in close consultation with the City of Coffs Harbour Council and the local bus operators Forest Coach Lines and Busways.

On 30 October 2023, a new public bus network was introduced to Coffs Harbour, and the surrounding area from Grafton and Red Rock in the north, to Macksville in the south, and Bowraville in the west. This included:

• Over 200 new weekly services, which is an uplift of approximately 19%.
• Weekday buses every 30 minutes between Park Beach Plaza, Park Beach, The Jetty, Coffs Harbour CBD. 
• Weekday buses every 30 minutes between Park Beach Plaza, Coffs Harbour CBD, Health Campus, Southern Cross University and Toormina. 
• Woopi Connect On Demand bus service expanded to include Sandy Beach and Emerald Beach. 
• Faster and more direct bus services between Coffs Harbour and the northern beach suburbs; with connections to the expanded Woopi Connect On Demand bus service. 
• New weekday peak express bus service between Macksville, Nambucca Heads and Coffs Harbour. 
• More weekend and public holiday services. 
• More services to Coffs Harbour Airport. 
• The Bambara Drive housing estate will receive town bus services for the first time. 
• New weekday, middle-of-day services between Bowraville and Macksville, with connecting onward travel towards Coffs Harbour. 

Visit:https://transportnsw.info/news/2023/better-bus-services-for-coffs 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operators:
Busways
Forest Coach Lines

Transport for NSW consulted with the Dubbo community in March and April 2022 to better understand how people were using buses, and how the existing bus network and timetable could be improved.

This community feedback was considered as the new bus service plan was developed, in close consultation with Dubbo Regional Council and the local bus operators Dubbo Buslines and Ogdens Coaches.

On 16 October 2023, 112 extra weekly services were introduced to Dubbo, which is an uplift of approximately 22%. This included:

• A new service every 30 minutes on weekdays between West Dubbo and Orana Mall, connecting Delroy Park Shopping Centre, Dubbo CBD, Dubbo Station, ALDI, Dubbo Base Hospital and TAFE.
• A new service between Taronga Western Plains Zoo and Orana Mall via Dubbo CBD.
• New services to Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo Showground, Bunnings and Dubbo Sports World.
• New services to South Dubbo, including Keswick and Southlakes.
• New services to West Dubbo, including Grangewood and Delroy Park.
• New services to North Dubbo industrial area.
• More timely, direct services to Dubbo Base Hospital.
• New services on Sundays and Public Holidays.

In addition to cash, bus users can now pay by tapping their credit or debit cards, phone or watch when boarding the bus. This is part of TfNSW’s contactless ticketing trials: https://transportnsw.info/contactless-regional-bus.

Visit:https://transportnsw.info/news/2023/better-bus-services-for-dubbo

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operators:
Buslines Group
Ogden’s Coaches

Initial improvements to Grafton’s bus network were delivered in September 2020.

Using this valuable feedback, Transport for NSW gained a clear understanding of the community's transport needs and have worked with Clarence Valley Council and bus operators Busways and Lawrence Bus Service, to review and prioritise the local bus service needs of the community.

Future bus network planning has now been finalised, with implementation subject to future funding decisions.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operators:
Busways
Lawrence Bus Service

Community consultation took place in Greater Nowra in January and February 2021. The feedback we received from the community informed the new bus network, which was developed in consultation with the bus operators. 

On 29 August 2022, over 250 new services were introduced to the Greater Nowra region. With faster more direct trips, better connections to Bomaderry station, better trips to work, TAFE, hospital and new weekend services.

Visit:https://transportnsw.info/news/2022/better-bus-services-for-greater-nowra

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operators:
Nowra Coaches
Shoal Bus 
Kennedys Tours 
Stuarts Coaches

Transport consulted with the Griffith community in 2022 to better understand how people were using buses, and how the existing bus network and timetable could be improved. This community feedback was considered as the new bus network was developed, in close consultation with Griffith City Council and local bus operator Griffith Buslines. 

On September 18, 2023, 77 extra weekly services were introduced to Griffith, which is an uplift of approximately 30%, including new Sunday and public holiday services within Griffith. The new timetable provides easier and safer access to the Griffith Hospital precinct and features new services to residential developments in Collina and South Griffith.

A new bus service linking South Griffith and Pioneer with the hospital precinct was introduced which also connects to the Griffith Regional Sports Centre. A new middle-of-day weekday service to Yenda, Beelbangera, Yoogali, Bilbul, Hanwood and Darlington Point has been added, as well as weekday school holiday services to Hanwood and Darlington Point.

Visit:https://transportnsw.info/news/2022/better-bus-services-for-griffith

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operator:
Buslines Group

Community consultation took place in Lismore during December 2021 and targeted engagement occurred in October 2022 following flooding. Using this valuable input, our teams worked with Lismore City Council and Lismore Buslines to prioritise the needs of the local community and develop a new bus network. 

On Monday 16 January 2023, 100 new services were introduced including new weekend and public holiday services and extended weekend hours on the On Demand B CONX Service. Timetables were adjusted to make them easier for customers to recall.

Visit:https://transportnsw.info/news/2023/better-bus-services-for-lismore

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operator:
Northern Rivers - Buslines Group

On 12 September 2022, over 200 additional services were introduced in Orange. There are more buses more often, new and more direct routes, and services earlier in the day and later at night and new services on Sundays and public holidays, to connect you more reliably where you need to go.

This includes new two-way services in Bowen, Glenroi and Warrendine, more direct services to Orange Station and Orange Hospital, as well as a frequent north-south services connecting North Orange with the CBD, Orange Station and Orange Hospital.

The better bus services make getting around Orange a lot easier – including travel to work, university, TAFE, shopping, hospital, visiting friends and family, or socialising in town.

Visit:https://transportnsw.info/news/2022/better-bus-services-for-orange-0 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operators:
Buslines Group
Newmans Fuels and Buses

Initial improvements to the Parkes bus network were delivered in July 2020.

Following community consultation in Parkes and detailed customer engagement across 2022, Transport for NSW have worked with Parkes Shire Council and bus operator Western Road Liners to review and prioritise the local bus service needs of the community.

Future bus network planning has now been finalised, with implementation subject to future funding decisions.

Initial improvements to Port Macquarie’s bus network were delivered in July 2020.

Transport for NSW consulted with the Port Macquarie community in mid-2022 as well as conducting detailed customer engagement across 2022. Feedback in relation to issues with the existing bus network was received from over 700 community members including 65 local stakeholder organisations.

Using this valuable feedback, Transport for NSW gained a clear understanding of the community's transport needs and have worked with Port Macquarie Hastings Council and bus operator Busways, to review and prioritise the local bus service needs of the community.     

Future bus network planning has now been finalised, with implementation subject to future funding decisions. 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operator: ​​​​​​
Busways

Community consultation took place in Queanbeyan during November 2021. Detailed customer and stakeholder engagement took place in late 2021 and across 2022, including with the ACT Government. Using the consultation outcomes, Transport for NSW gained a clear understanding of the community’s transport needs and worked with Queanbeyan Palerang Council and bus operator CDC Canberra to develop a new bus network.

On January 23 2023 90 extra weekly services, including on Sundays and public holidays, were introduced to Queanbeyan. This includes better connections to Canberra with more direct and express services; as well as improved services to TAFE, Queanbeyan Station and Canberra Airport.

Visit:https://transportnsw.info/news/2023/better-bus-services-for-queanbeyan

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operator:
CDC NSW 

Transport for NSW consulted with the Tamworth community in August to September 2022, including detailed customer engagement across 2022 Feedback in relation to local services was received from community members as well as 66 stakeholder organisations.    
  
Using all this valuable feedback, Transport for NSW gained a clear understanding of the community's transport needs and have worked with Tamworth Regional Council and bus operators (Buslines Tamworth and Hannafords Coaches) to review and prioritise the local bus service needs of the community.    

Future bus network planning has now been finalised, with implementation subject to future funding decisions.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operator:
Buslines Group

In December 2019 more than 450 additional weekly services were introduced to Tweed Heads’ bus network, which included 160 extra weekly services before 7am and after 6pm and 50 new weekly services before 5am and after 9pm.

Every route in Tweed Heads now has a direct or timetable connecting service to The Tweed Hospital, Tweed Mall and the Queensland border.

Services to Tweed Hospital have been improved with regular services between 5am and 11pm weekdays, with buses every 15 minutes during most parts of the day. Kingscliff TAFE is now easier to access with the 601 doubling in frequency and the new 609 route introduced from Murwillumbah.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operator:
Surfside Buslines

In March 2020 more than 240 extra weekly services were introduced across the Wagga Wagga bus network. An improved new bus network was introduced across Wagga to improve travel opportunities across the community.

Bus services now travel into new areas such as Lloyd and Botanical Gardens at Macleay Street, and evening services were introduced on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. Sunday and public holiday services were also introduced for all bus routes.

Travel time has been reduced for services operating to Charles Sturt University from Lake Albert, Bourkelands and Glenfield Park. Generally, customers will save between 15 to 39 minutes on trips to Charles Sturt University.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact local bus operator:
Busabout Wagga