North-West. M2 widening could be disastrous

The widening of the M2 between Lane Cove and the Hills district could have a disastrous effect on a public transport route into one of Sydney's booming job centres, transport experts say. As part of a $550 million plan to widen the tollway from four lanes to six, the operator, Transurban, will demolish a bus-only access ramp near Epping station. The ramp is used by more than 60 Hillsbus services a day that transport passengers on the popular 611 service from Blacktown to Macquarie Park, via Epping. Bus patronage from the Hills district has boomed in the past decade, due to a combination of traffic congestion and gradually rising fuel costs.

Parramatta. Growth of bus services

The Parramatta-based, ComfortDelGro Cabcharge Pty Ltd (CDC), the second-largest operator of commuter buses in NSW, expects growth to increase 15 per cent to 30 per cent, depending on the route. In 2005, the company ran 60 buses along the M2; today the number is 166. Overall, the number of buses has increased from 612 to 880. CDC is a joint venture between Singapore-based ComfortDelGro Corporation, a Spanish company, and Cabcharge Australia, which has 49 per cent share. The venture was established in October 2005 to purchase loss-making bus company, Westbus, from National Express and the Bosnjak family.