REVEALED: The worst suburbs in Sydney for public transport with thousands of late trains and buses plaguing frustrated commuters
- NSW Transport's latest data has revealed the most delayed routes in Sydney
- COVID-19 lockdown made it hard to compare 2019-2020 data with 2018-2019
- 68 commuters are now allowed per carriage on trains, and 23 per bus, up from 12
Sydney's worst public transport routes have been revealed as thousands of commuters return to work and COVID-19 capacity limits ease.
The T1 North Shore, which links the CBD with Penrith in the city's western outskirts, was the least reliable train route across the 2019-2020 financial year.
More than 10 per cent of services on the T1 line arrived late in 2019-2020, according to data released by NSW Transport on Thursday.
T9 Northern and the T2 Inner West and Leppington train routes were also frequently affected by delays greater than five minutes.
Across the board, 7.5 per cent of all Sydney Train services were late.
The Gordon Railway station packed with commuters disembarking a crowded train.
A Transport for NSW spokesman defended the delays, saying the Sydney Trains network ran at 92.5 per cent punctuality, a slight increase from 91.3 per cent last year.
The spokesman said it was difficult to compare the delays this year with last year given the 'highly unprecedented circumstances of COVID-19'.
'Unfortunately, service delays occur at times due to various factors including severe weather events such as bushfires, storms or floods, sick customers, urgent repairs,' he added.
Share this article
For buses, the Transit Systems West - running from Strathfied to Earlwood - was the most hit by delays, with 6.5 per cent running more than five minutes late, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Second in line was the State Transit Authority - running from Botany, Eastgardens, Bondi and through to Vaucluse - with five per cent of its service running late.
This was followed by Ingleburn Bus Services (Interline), the State Transit Authority (North Rocks to Hunters Hill), Transdev NSW South (Sutherland) and Transdev South (Bankstown), with a four per cent delay in services.
A Transport for NSW spokesman said: 'Sydney's east and inner west are some of the most challenging regions for bus operations and service delivery with some of Sydney's busiest roads.'
Dozens of commuters standing in line on York Street, waiting for a bus in the heart of Sydney. This picture was taken before COVID-19 and the nation going into lockdown.
Transport for NSW's data for the 2019-2020 financial year comes as capacity on public transport increases, following an additional 3100 weekly bus services and more than 250 weekly train services added to the network in June.
In an announcement on June 1, Transport for NSW said the extra services were to temporarily increase capacity for physical distancing as well as provide more public transport options for commuters.
An extra 800 weekly buses and light rail services were added across Sydney in June as well.
Now 68 commuters are allowed per carriage on trains, up from 32, and 23 on a typical two-door bus, up from 12.
Ferries, such as a Freshwater ferry, can now carry up to 450 commuters from 245. In June, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian encouraged passengers 'to leave a space or an empty seat between themselves and other customers and continue to find green dots for the safest places to sit and stand. No green dot, no spot.'
When speaking about public transport in June, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: 'Passengers still need to leave a space or an empty seat between themselves and other customers and continue to find green dots for the safest places to sit and stand. No green dot, no spot.'
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
