Bus commuters have had nearly 400 weekly bus services ripped from their timetables by the Labor Government during the past month, Shadow Minister for Transport Barry O’Farrell said today.
“Slashing bus services when the people of Sydney are looking for alternatives to the car flies in the face of common sense,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“Now is the time to be encouraging people to get onto public transport, not ripping nearly 400 weekly services from the bus network,” he said.
2 comments:
“More than 140 weekly services to and from Clovelly beach on the 339 bus route were cut on the 18th of June.
“From this week a total of 238 weekly bus services on routes 200, 308, 374 and 376* were also axed. (*see attached document for route locations)
“The 200 bus from Bondi Junction to Chatswood has had more than 20% of its services cut.
“The 374 Coogee to the City route has lost 84 services a week.
“The frequency of some services have been cut from every 60 minutes to every 80 minutes.
“This will only put more people back into their car at a time when traffic congestion and pollution are already high.
“After slashing more than 270 train services per day from the rail network, Labor is applying the same flawed logic to our bus system.
“This Government seems intent on squeezing more commuters into fewer buses and trains.
“Instead of improving bus services, the Government is making off-peak travel less appealing,” Mr O’Farrell said.
Shadow Minister for Transport Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Planning Chris Hartcher said today the State Government should renew the operating lease for the 3801 steam locomotive so future generations can enjoy this piece of living history.
“The Liberal/Nationals believes the current lease should be renewed so the historic 3801 steam locomotive can continue operating” Mr O’Farrell said.
“This is a popular heritage tourist attraction that should be enjoyed by future generations,” he said.
The largely volunteer-run ‘3801 Limited’ restored the heritage steam locomotive, taking out a 20-year lease to operate the engine from historic rail facilities in Eveleigh.
3801’s services are currently threatened by the Iemma Government’s decision to redevelop its Redfern base for high-rise buildings, the failure to renew the locomotive’s lease (expires on November 26), and the refusal to stop plans for the disposal of its heritage carriages.
“Every effort must be made to preserve this important piece of rail heritage as an operating train,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“NSW doesn’t have such an abundance of rail heritage to allow something as special and successful as the 3801 to be discarded,” he said.
A Liberal/Nationals Government would ensure RailCorp renewed the existing lease and was prevented from disposing of any of the rolling stock.
Shadow Minister for Planning Chris Hartcher said the important rail facilities should be protected by a heritage order.
“We firmly believe the 3801’s home, the Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh, should be maintained for heritage railway operations,” Mr Hartcher said.
“The heritage significance of the facility, built in the 1880’s, is recognised by the National Trust. It’s a scandal that the Minister for Planning, who is also responsible for the Heritage Office, is allowing its demolition.”
“The Large Erecting Shop is the only suitable building in Sydney for these types of works which include major overhauls and apprentice training,” he said.
Mr O’Farrell said the only reason the 3801 locomotive was operational was due to tireless work done by the volunteers and steam enthusiasts who make up 3801 Limited.
“This non-profit organisation should be allowed to continue the good work it’s been doing over the past 20 years,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“It would be a tragedy for the 3801 to end up sitting idle in a museum after proving itself to be such a popular and nostalgic living tourist attraction,” he said.
Post a Comment