Where have all the buses gone?

BY DHEEPTHI NAMASIVAYAM

While people flock to Pyrmont to visit Star City Casino or the Fish Markets, for its residents, travelling from Pyrmont to the city on State Transit buses has become increasingly frustrating.
This week, community group Pyrmont Action will meet to discuss a more viable solution to their transport woes, primarily concerning the Pyrmont to City 501, 448 and 443 bus services operating via Harris Street.
‘The 501 bus runs seven days a week, but they have reduced the services at the weekend,’ Elizabeth Elenius, convenor of Pyrmont Action group told The City News.
‘During the week there are occasions when, by the time it comes from Ryde to Pyrmont, it’s not possible to get a seat in peak-hour.”
Moreover, Ms Elenius said the 443 service has become increasingly unreliable, arriving at stops such as the TAB facility too early or too late, forcing passengers to wait a long time for the next bus.
A spokesperson for NSW Transport Minister, John Watkins, said: ‘With the growth of jobs in the Pyrmont area, the route 448 has been added to assist the operation of Route 443 services.’
But Ms Elenius said this QVB to Star City pre-paid service, which transports workers to and from media and business offices in Pyrmont, refuses to take passengers back to Pyrmont.
‘In the evenings, passengers are waiting half an hour for a 443 at the QVB and a 448 comes from Pyrmont, drops three or four people, shuts its door snap and drives off,’ she said. ‘It’s a scandalous use of a public facility, particularly when buses in the area have been reduced.’
Initial suggestions called for frequent shuttle buses to carry passengers down Harris Street, particularly on weekends. But Pyrmont Action will discuss a more cost-effective and efficient proposal this week.
‘A suggestion has been made that the 441 or 442 Balmain to City service be redirected to travelling back through Pyrmont,’ Ms Elenius said.
‘This has the double advantage of connecting people who live in Pyrmont or Ultimo to get to Balmain, who are currently required to get two buses and it has the added advantage of enabling Balmain residents to access the Fish Markets and other attractions of Pyrmont,’ she added.
Mr Watkins’ spokesperson would not respond directly to these suggestions, but said that ‘extensive community consultation for the region that takes in Pyrmont is expected to take place towards the end of 2008.’