Parramatta. Doubling bus service

Minister for Transport, John Robertson, has announced the new Metrobus Route M54 connecting Parramatta, Carlingford, Epping, Macquarie University and Macquarie Park, will start operating from Sunday, October 10. The number of services will increase from 385 to 840 per week, providing capacity for an extra 26,000 passengers.

Region. Region has 58 per cent of new buses

Fifty-eight per cent, or 175, of the 300 new buses promised by the state government has been allocated to Western Sydney, with the delivery of the final 19 vehicles six months ahead of schedule. The Hills district/North-West Sydney has received 113 buses and Western/South Western Sydney, 62 buses.

Region. $72 million for new buses

The NSW government it will place a $72 million order for the first 100 of the 1,000 new buses to service Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and the Blue Mountains. “We will be talking to the private sector right away and calling on them to deliver the first 100 buses as soon as they can in the next financial year. It is going to be a challenge for them but we have the funding to make it happen and will be asking them to get on with the job,” Premier Kristine Keneally said.