There are concerns about potential commuter chaos in parts of Sydney tomorrow with major changes to some bus routes. The changes were designed to compliment the city's multi-billion dollar metro line which was due to open today but has now been delayed indefinitely.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Well, tens of bus routes have either changed or been cut completely in anticipation of
00:07Sydney's Chatswood to Sydenham Metro line opening.
00:11The Metro was due to open today but has been delayed indefinitely.
00:16These bus route changes, however, have come into effect from today and it does mean that
00:21there are a number of areas in North Sydney that no longer have a direct bus route into
00:27the CBD.
00:28These changes were, of course, designed to sort of ferry people onto the Metro but without
00:34the Metro opening there are people that are going to be left stranded or with significant
00:41changes to their routes into the CBD.
00:47These bus changes, the timetable changes, have come into effect from today but the real
00:51test will be tomorrow when commuters are trying to get to work.
00:56We're told that additional buses, replacement buses, will be running tomorrow as well as
01:02staff being stationed at some of these Metro stops to redirect people onto their best route
01:09into the CBD.
01:11The Metro was, of course, due to open today.
01:14It's been long awaited.
01:16Many people are really looking forward to this Metro line opening.
01:21It has, however, now been delayed indefinitely.
01:24We don't know when the Metro might open.
01:27We're told that additional safety checks are still being undertaken and that the National
01:34Rail Safety Regulator does still need to sign off on the Metro.
01:39There have been a number of safety concerns raised by firefighters over the last few weeks
01:45and months, including just last week during one of these safety drills.
01:49A firefighter did suffer an electric shock.
01:52So that incident is still being investigated and may well delay the opening of this Metro
01:59even further.
02:00We don't have any idea yet when the new opening date will be.
02:05The Minister hasn't yet set a new opening date.
02:08We're waiting for the National Rail Safety Regulator to sign off on the Metro before
02:14it can open to passengers.