Showing posts with label Busways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Busways. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Busways Has New Time Tables as from 17th February 2014

I have received advise that there are new bus time table for the following bus services, as from 17th February 2014:
724, T70 & T71

Refer to other links for Busways Time Tables.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

More Frequency Of Trains Out West And Less Up North - Rooty Hill Commuter!

Each commuter I talk too has got such good qualities and wonderful in sharing their opinions on how they would like to  see improvement in public transport. The beautiful thing that I like in interviewing or discussing these topics with these commuters is I do listen - and when they come from Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs I listen even better! No, it doesn't mean I don't listen to others!

Whilst talking to Jeanne from Rooty Hill, I was really encouraged with her enthusiasm with her passion for  improvement in public transport. It made  myself so realise that there are so many great people in Mount Druitt.

Jeanne travels by car from Rooty Hill to Mount Druitt and then then catches Sydney Trains to Town hall train station and return to home. She says the frequency of trains is very important issue in peak hours returning home, where there is a general tendency that the trains carriages from the city are very crowded and she is generally left standing up to Parramatta train, and sits when seats become available. 

One thing  she has noticed is trains travelling travelling towards the North Shore line are not are not as crowded or over crowed as the T1 Western line. this is where trains services may be taken from to cater  for more commuters travelling out West on the T1 Western Line.  

Jean also mentioned that it appears the NSW Government may not understand that there are workers out west that need to travel to the city or further for work on weekends.  Having on 2 -3 services per hour  on weekend peak hours needs to be increased to 3-4 services per hour, allowing commuters more preparation of time to catch the Sydney Trains at Mount Druitt. The current train services are like the old days when they was only weekday shopping and no weekend shopping - now it is 24 hour shopping, 7 days a week. We don't have the train services to match it, in our modern era.

Furthermore Jeanne  advised about a friend hers that catches the 756 home outside Rooty Hill train station, normally catches the Busways bus 756 and one day the bus didn't arrive for 20 minutes so she decided to walk home to Oakhurst and was completely tired , after one hour of walking on top of the  waiting period.  Bus services should be provided to the local community at correct intervals, to prevent community members being disheartened about bus services and spending  more time getting home!

Finally, Jeanne says that the Sydney Trains are more reliable as opposed to local bus services that disappear!


Thursday, February 6, 2014

Bus Driver Blocks Traffic On North Parade, Mount Druitt!

Yes, this is true a 'Little Birdie' has told myself of an incident where a Busways bus driver was frustrated with a private passenger vehicle at the exit  and roundabout of the the Mount Druitt bus interchange, entering into Mount Druitt.

This happened due  the private passenger vehicle not providing proper  access for the bus driver to leave the intersection. I believe that the bus driver stood there for 8 minutes and was asked by officials to move on, but  actually ignore directions. This blocked traffic from  both directions.

Although the bus drivers actions were uncalled for and not substantiated, for the action caused by the  driver of the private passenger  vehicle, the driver was very lucky police were not called for obstructing traffic.

Maybe this this could be investigated to ensure this doesn't happen again by Transport for NSW and the Minister for  Transport!


Sunday, December 15, 2013

Bus Shelter Disappears In Whalan - We Seek Answers!

Last weekend Anne, Vice-President of Mount  Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc. contacted myself and notified of the missing 'Bus Stop' at the corner of Waikanda Crescent and Luxford Roads Whalan.

This  is not the first time people of Mount Druitt have been taken away certain  Bus Shelter within the area of Mount Druitt ( refer to previous blogs).

Here is the previous blog on the bus stop at the corner of Waikanda Crescent and Luxford Roads Whalan:

http://mountdruittcommuters.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/bus-stop-2770194-needs-concrete-slab-to.html

And here are 2 ladies on last Sunday, using the shade of the tree 20-30 minutes up the road, whilst Blacktown City Council and Busways removed the shelter for no reason!

Click Here The Missing Bus Stop Video

Also find a video, where there is a young mother and her young baby, unable to shade the shade of the bus shelter and an elderly lady who can't sit down, standing with a cane, painfully.

And here is 2 ladies using the shade of the tree about 20 - 30 metres away from  where the bus stop is(they are in the  middle of the photo). This was an extremely hot day.

We do not want people to suffer when there  a bus shelter required and then removed.




Friday, December 13, 2013

NSW BUS REGION 1 - 'ON-TIME' BUS Services - ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THEM?

Here is a blog on Sydney Bus Region Bus services including Bus Region 1. It would be interesting if you provide some  feedback to us to let us know how you are going with your own time- tabled services. As you are the customer, commuter using these services, all comments appreciated!


Click Here for Sydney Bus Regions 'On Time' Bus Running Services

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Busways Bus Service 674 Went Off-Track - Who Needs Training?

Imagine that you travel on your bus route and then you notice that the bus driver accidently over passes a turn to travel on the correct route. Well we know that everyone is not perfect and we all make mistakes but how does this happen when the bus driver was a training bus driver and had a trainer on the bus?

Personally, I can not answer this question bua female commuter from Whalan explained that a few weeks ago, it did happen as the bus was heading into Mount Druitt and as it past the the old Whalan High School. Somehow the bus turned around to head back into Gasmatta Crescent, Whalan to return to it's original journey!

So who needs the training?

Sunday, December 8, 2013

New Time Tables Not Working For Busways - Solution Provided!

I have just recently heard from a transport spokesperson that Busways  bus drivers are finding it difficult to run to the new October 2013 time tables.

Basic reasons for this to occur, is  late running services and this is caused by many reasons: bus drivers not provided with a proper rest at the end of each trip,  commuters complaining, and also not having the right amount of fares and undeciding of whether they have to get on bus or not.

Keeping in mind these issues and remembering (from previous blogs) that bus drivers are allowed 30 seconds to pick up and drop at each bus  stop. If this time is over the time limit, it extends the time of the journey. This results in bus services not meeting with interchange timetables for other buses or any Sydney Trains. So Busways are  looking at contingency plans to counter this time table issue they are having. This is a  major KPI* on maintaining the contracts on NSW Bus Region 1 for the next 3-5 years.

Solution for this is very easy, in my aspect. When timetables are issued, they should be issued with a flexibility of times of arrival and depart. What does this mean, some of you are saying?

Well, up to now, NSW for Transport in the past have been providing timetables which commuters expect to be exact timetables, especially based on their  planned journey for the day. By allowing  say for example a '5 minutes flexibility time table' that means services can arrive 5 minutes before or after the designated 'Flexible Timetabled' times. Normally, commuters will arrive minutes before or just as the service is arriving.

By doing this, it takes off the pressure off from bus drivers, Management of Busways, NSW for Transport and there would need to be an educational process to be provided to each commuter (which will also result in less complaints) to worry about being late or early by 5 minutes! Commuters will need to have a better understanding rather than getting frustrated waiting for services.

The other suggestion, would be heading to the right way, providing extra bus services cutting down the waiting time and in itself promoting more people to become commuters, catching public transport buses!

What do think? It is a positive way of fixing Busways dilemma at the moment? Let us know your thoughts, ideas or feedback - this is important for everyone!

*Key Performance Indicator





Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Lost Bus Driver Drops Off Commuter!

A St Clair commuter Jeanette  had told myself of why has happened on a recent bus trip, since the new time tables have been put in place. a friend of hers told her.

There were bus commuters, one day, that travelling from Penrith through to Cambridge Park  and then went off-route to streets where the bus was not suppose to go. Commuters on the bus advised him of this error and took commuters to Werrington shops, then commuters were asked to get off the bus and walk to the train station.

It appeared that the bus driver was confused and  may have been stressed for taking commuters to the wrong street. Maybe he needed time out - I'm not sure how commuters treated the bus driver, yet I would have treated him with extreme calm respect!

Editors Notes:  Do Busways properly train  bus drivers on each individual  bus route for new bus drivers or are they expected to study the routes and  take commuters around. I do know they  are training them on routes in one 2 days - bus does it cover all routes in  NSW Bus Region 1

Friday, November 1, 2013

Busways Management Compliment Busways Customer Service Officer Officer At Mount Druitt

A few days I report how a Busways Customer Service Representative tapped myself on the shoulder, whilst I was talking to a commuter and handed myself a copy of the new bus time table. 

He was fully complimented for his service that he was provided not just to myself but continually handing out to other commuters. He said he picked up a box  of time table, which he was doing of his own bat - this was his idea. Well it was so good to here that the manager from Busways that reads our blogs acts on our blogs!

Further news as well was yesterday I required a 780 time table for my daughter and myself when I caught the Busways 755 bus yesterday morning at 6.15 on Bulolo Road, I asked the bus driver for this particular time table. Well this morning when  I entered the bus the bus driver quickly asked myself if I still required the 780 bus time table, I responded positively and  kindly thanked him. I was not prepared for this extra service.

It is good that bus drivers are going out of their way to help commuters, especially if they remember who we are - keep it up.

Have you had any similar situations happen in Mount Druitt or in your local area?

Click here for previous blog

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

New Bus Route Time Table For Part Of NSW Bus Region 1 & Bus Depots

busways iconHere  is a list of Busways Bus Routes (part of NSW Bus Region 1): 


S7   - Parklea Garden Village Shopper Hopper
S12  -Quakers Court to Marayong
T70  - Blacktown to Castle Hill via Norwest & Bella Vista 
T71  - Blacktown to Castle Hill via Stanhope Gardens 
T74  - Blacktown to Riverstone via The Ponds & Schofields  
T75  - Blacktown to Rouse Hill & Riverstone
718  - Seven Hills to Kings Langley 
721  - Blacktown to Blacktown Hospital
722  - Blacktown to Prospect
724  - Blacktown to Huntingwood Industrial Area
725  - Blacktown to Douglas Rd, Doonside 
726  - Blacktown to Doonside Station (south side) via
727  - Blacktown to Our Lady of Consolation Nursing Home
737  - Mt Duitt & Rooty Hill to Eastern Creek 
738  - Mt Druitt & Rooty Hill - Eastern Creek Industrial Park & Horsley Park which  
739  - Mt Druitt to Mt Druitt South via Frank St 
739V- Mt Druitt to Minchinbury which you previously opted to receive email aler
740  - Plumpton to Macquarie Park via M2  
743  - Blacktown to Kings Langley via Kings Park 
744  - Blacktown Industrial Area 
745  - St Marys to Castle Hill via Stanhope Parkway 
746  - Riverstone to Box Hill 
750  - Mt Druitt - Glendenning & Dean Park 
752  - Blacktown to Quakers Hill via Pye Rd then Hambledon Rd
753  - Blacktown to Doonside  
754  - Blacktown to Dean Park & Glendenning then Hassall Grove & Mt Druitt 
755  - Mt Druitt to Shalvey & Plumpton which you previously opted to receive email 
756  - Blacktown to Mt Druitt via Plumpton & Rooty Hill
757  - Mt Druitt to Riverstone via Rooty Hill & Plumpton 
758  - Mt Druitt to St Marys via Emerton and Shalvey
761  -  Mt Druitt to Bidwill via Carlisle Av 

Click Here For Further time tables for Busways


Bus Depots for Region 1:


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Busways Advertisement For Taking Over Sydney Bus Region 1 - Mount Druitt St Marys Standard


Busways New Bus Depots And Now All Bus Drivers Covering all of Sydney Bus Region 1- Mount Druitt- St Marys Standard!

The new changes in Busways taking over the bus operation of Bus Region 1, is going to test the limits Busways can provide to provide  efficient , more reliable future and we will see what they will do  to promote public transport and travelling on local buses to in crease patronage as well. Busways have  a 3 year trial with an extension of 2 years if successful, so honest good  feedback whether it  be negative or positive must be provided by the local community through our group, comments on any published blogs and using the 131500 website and phone.

Here is the  article from the Mount Druitt St Marys Standard:



Tell us what you think. There will be confusion as from the 6th October 2013 with some local bus commuter not catching Busways buses as they have been used to catching  Westbus buses. In time that will be reduced!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Busways On Time Running Report On Current Timetables!

We hear how commuters have issues with on time running of public transport, especially bus services and that is one of the gripes that seems to be coming up the majority of the time.

The secret is out, Busways at Glendenning Depot have provided on the notice board (for the first time), their recent on time percentages for  Region 1, resulting at 99.06% accuracy of time.

I  have seen a report recently that bus region 1:  had an on time  percentage of about 92% - when I find this will update details. If that is the case Westbus would be fractionally less on time then Busways!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Busways Take Over Region One Contracts As From 7th October 2013

I have heard from two sources that Busways will take over the Bus Region 1 officially as from 7th October 2013.

One thing we must stress to everyone is Busways is not Buying out Westbus, which is what a lot of commuters are spreading as a rumor in the community. Luckily, being involved with the Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc. we understand the process of winning a government tender for the operation of buses.

We don't see the actual done to win it, can see what is involved in winning it  and 'back to basics' the  bus operator that provides more 'real time' of time tables.

We hope that the local press pick up  from us to educate the community, in confirming that Busways has not bought out Westbus, especially when the new bus changes will occur.

From bus drivers, I have heard there are some Westbus bus drivers that are upset with their new contracts, especially when they were paid  overtime on weekends and the weekend penalty rates for Busways is less than the overtime rates for Westbus drivers get paid  by 0.25 - Busways offering 1 1/2 times for Saturday and overtime for Westbus was 1 3/4 times.

I'm sure Busways is doing their best to make Westbus drivers happy to join them!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Busways Are Preparing For Taking Over Region 1 Bus Contracts & So Is Busways Head Office Moving From Pymble!

Busways are preparing themselves for the taking over of  NSW Bus Contracts Region 1: Depots based will be based at Plumpton, Penrith and Richmond/Windsor area, whilst former Westbus bus services will be maintained with the change over. 


They even have employed 30 more bus drivers to cover increased trips and are implementing strategies in Mount Druitt area, that will provide a modern bus running system. This will be used for example: when buses run late there will be a spare driver and bus within the three above mentioned areas, to pick up the commuters that will not be running so late. This is an impressive idea that I think will do Busways justice in winning the Bus Region 1 Contracts.

At present, there are time keepers at Mount Druitt bus interchange checking the current time tabled bus services, preparing for the new Bus time tables coinciding with the Sydney rail train time tables, in October 2013.

Also in plans is the Busways Head Office which will move from Pymble in Sydney's upper north shore to  a new premises in Western Sydney's Rouse Hill area. They will also be seeking jobs to be filled up as well - a good opportunity for people from the west to apply for  vacant position, when available.


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Mount Druitt Commuters Welcome The Busways Double Decker Buses!

Commuters and bus drivers are getting used to the Busways Double Decker buses on the 750 bus route.

So far, commuters are astounded that such a lovely bus is on this route and even in Mount Druitt. My sources indicate that this will be a well patronised bus service and the service will increase dramatically in due time.

I have not as yet been on it,  the chance will come one day and then will be honoured to ride on it, as something very special, we have out west. This is something good Mount Druitt is getting. In time, there may be more Double Decker buses likely to run in other routes within the area, later.

Already one commuter says it is good that the staircase is in the front of the bus compared to the previous 'Atlantean Sydney Buses' which were in the middle of the bus and the previous Double Decker buses (before that) were at the back of the bus and open ( No Door).



Click Here for photo courteous Mount Druitt Commuter


Older Sydney Buses
Atlantean buses Sydney

Friday, April 26, 2013

Busways Bus Drivers Supporting Free Mount Druitt Bus Shuttle Petition!

Amazing, I really don't have to do anything. The Word spreads by itself! They say one word can spread to one other and that one spreads the word to another and so on. Well, what makes my job easy is people talking and spreading the word, instead of myself doing it.

 In fact, I am proud of the people of Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs that are really feeling pumped up and excited that we are eventually getting a  Free shuttle bus not only are the people are talk but there is one or two bus drivers  taking up the Mount Druitt Free Shuttle petition, mentioning it to bus commuters and they are asking what the proposed route looks like. In fact the bus driver explains the route to them. So far this bus driver has nearly twenty commuters that have signed the petition.  The bus driver has referred the petition to the Depot Manager and his eyes has widened not realising that Mount Druitt is a large populated town.

Just like me, this bus driver is proud of living and even driving buses around Mount Druitt. I take my hat off to this bus driver!



Thursday, February 28, 2013

How To Read New Tickets - Busways

On  behalf of the Mount Druitt Community and Commuter Improvement Group Inc,  I would like to thank Mr. Andrew Glass, Busways Group Services Development Manager, has offer to place this notification of Busways will be advising all commuters to read their tickets.

Not everyone has  an interest in reading these tickets and these tickets can be  proven as what times buses are arriving at bus stops.


Click here for How to read your New printed Bus Ticket!

Click Here for our previous blog and request for an understanding on tickets

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Mount Druitt Bus Tickets Indicating Late Buses On Bus Stop - Busways 750

Please note these tickets have been issued to commuters who are concerned of  bus time tables on the Busways 750 & 762 Route, as per above ticket.

It is hard for myself to assess where the actual address is that Busways supplied the ticket from was supplied by Busways will probably know.

Maybe the 9 minutes late service can be frustrating but the 16 minutes late can  make commuters pace up and down the bus stop, wondering what service are they getting. Do you think these late times are immediately creating havoc. Do commuters think that it is on purpose they are late or do they accept our public transport system may have occasional late running services, which have genuine reason for arriving late?

What do you think?





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