Erskineville buses to nowhere

By CHRISTOPHER HARRIS
Erskineville residents are bracing for another hit to public transport in the area, following the revelation that peak bus services from the area will no longer reach the CBD.

The decision announced by NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance will mean the 308 peak service from Marrickville Metro to the City will terminate at Redfern station.

The move comes as part of the timetabled CBD light rail construction which will effectively shut down George Street until completion.

From October 4, passengers will have to disembark the bus and join another if they wish to travel into the CBD during the peak morning period.

The bus route, which services the inner west, is one of six bus routes that have been earmarked to stop short of entering the CBD.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said most of the 1000 buses that enter the city during the AM peak hour will continue to do so, but the early termination of the 308 bus was one among 5 routes which will have their final stop movedoutside the CBD to reduce congestion.
“This isn’t going to be easy for everyone, and some commuters will have to interchange for the first time,” Mr Constance said.

A statement released by the minister said the discontinuance of services and changes will reduce bus congestion in the core of the CBD, because there would be 60 fewer buses on York Street and over 60 fewer on Druitt Street.

The statement said that in order to “reduce unnecessary bus movements and duplicated services, some other routes with low patronage will also be discontinued…[and that] customers will still have other alternate routes to choose from”.

Community group Friends of Erskineville posted on their Facebook page lamenting the changes, following proposed government plans to cut train services on the Bankstown line, which stops in Erskineville and St Peters.

President of the group Darren Jenkins said he was very unhappy because the bus route changes occurred without consultation, especially as the suburb faced 1600 proposed new dwellings in the nearby Ashmore estate.

“Even though the council has predicted the population will double, that massive population increase is going to happen sooner rather than later, we need better services, not cuts to trains, no cuts to buses,” he said.

“I think that we are very eager to drive consultation process, to drive an information campaign about what’s happening to the Bankstown line, and to the 308 bus service and the kind of other services that are needed, with the development of the Ashmore estate.”

“We want to bring together as many voices, to insist and demand consultation and answers from the government.”