An improved Newcastle Transport network being introduced in January promises to provide customers with better links to the John Hunter and Mater hospitals as well as extended hours for core routes.
Currently, the majority of week-night bus services operate until 10:30pm but under the new network, core route buses will operate until midnight on weeknights and will run every hour on Friday and Saturday nights until 3am.
Newcastle's private transport operator, Keolis Downer has also promised to link the John Hunter Hospital and Newcastle CBD with services every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm and every 30 minutes on Weekends, which Keolis Downer Hunter CEO Campbell Mason says will have a new number which, will be announced along with the Transport Network on Thursday.
Mr Mason said the changes come off the back of intense community consultation and analysis of opal data.
"We have been analysing - to start with - opal data but, of course, the opal data can only tell us about who is using the system and when they are using the system. We are looking to get feedback and have got feedback from others who are not currently using the public transport network. We have been running the voice of Newcastle program and getting a lot of comments from the social pinpoint website and also we have been running citizens panels to get feedback," Mr Mason said.
The Mater Hospital will also receive an upgrade in services with timetabled connections between Broadmeadow and Waratah stations and the hospital.
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| Picture: Jarrod Melmeth |
