Newcastle commuters are set to benefit from more than 160 new public transport services for the region commencing on April 3.
Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said additional services would improve journey times and increase service frequency outside of peak periods and on weekends.
“We are excited to be improving services across all Newcastle Transport modes including bus, ferry, light rail and on-demand to encourage people back on to public transport,” Elliott said.
Service improvements will include adding 90 bus services each week and introducing a new express route that travels between Charlestown and the Newcastle CBD.
“The new express route, the 10X, is a game-changer and will take about 20 minutes to travel between Charlestown and Newcastle Interchange during the morning and afternoon peaks,” Elliot added.
“It will take the same time as an individual car trip travelling along City Road – without the stress of finding a park.”
Elliot added that operating hours of the On-Demand service, which covered the Charlestown to Belmont region, had been extended until 6 pm on weekdays.
“Extra light rail services have also been added to weekends, with services now every 15 minutes from 7 am to 1 am on Saturday and Sunday,” he said.
Keolis Downer Hunter General Manager Emmanuel Genlot said bus timetables, including some school bus services, had their timings tweaked to improve the network’s reliability for the customers.
“Our customer service officers can also provide personalised assistance to help existing customers and those new to public transport via our virtual travel concierge or at the Newcastle Interchange,” Genlot said.
Ferry commuters will also benefit from improved service frequency from Monday to Saturday, with over 50 additional trips each week announced for the system.
Details on the improvements, including the new network map and timetables, can be found on the Newcastle Transport website.
Maia O’Connor