More than 3,300 extra services will be added to the public transport network across Sydney to temporarily increase capacity for physical distancing and provide more options for customers.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said extra weekly services will be added to the network from today to help customers continue to make smart travel choices and practice physical distancing on all modes.
“Transport for NSW is being more proactive and adaptable to provide customers with more information and options throughout the day to help flatten the peak travel curve,” Mr Constance said.
“Looking at the data, it is clear the majority of people have listened and made smart travel choices so far and we thank them for this. However, there has been a slight increase in peak hour travel in the past two weeks and we don’t want to see that continuing.
“Transport for NSW is adding more than 3,300 extra weekly services to buses and trains to temporarily provide more capacity on the network.
“We have already added almost 800 extra weekly services across STA buses and light rail in the last month.
“This next step in the COVIDSafe Transport Plan will see 100,000 extra spaces across the network each week to support people returning to jobs and kids getting back to school.”
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said the majority of extra services have been designed to increase capacity outside the traditional peak where they are needed most.
“Based on current physical distancing requirements, these extra services will help provide more than 59,000 extra spaces on trains and more than 37,000 extra spaces on buses across each week,” Mr Collins said.
“Tradies, health care workers, shift workers and school kids need to travel at specific times of the day which is why we have targeted some of these extra services for them.
“Our strong advice remains that if you are not already using public transport during the peak times, please do not start now.”
Mr Constance said the new extra services will give people even more options to travel outside the peak.
“Please also look to drive, walk or cycle whenever you can and continue to working flexibly if possible.”
“Our Marshalling Response and Support Teams are helping customers move safely across the network. Increased cleaning is also continuing across all modes, with buses and trains now being cleaned up four times a day.”
“Our customers have done a great job so far but we need them to keep working with us in the coming weeks and months as we get through this together.”
Breakdown of the extra temporary services:
- Buses: more than 3100 weekly services
- Sydney Trains: more than 250 weekly services