More Buses for Wallsend under Revamped Timetable

BY JESSICA ROUSE

From January next year, there will be double the number of bus services operating out of Wallsend.

Keolis Downer has announced a more frequent route will operate between Wallsend and the city with better connections to Broadmeadow Station and Merewether Beach.

"We've certainly sought to maintain the geographic coverage and we have a number of frequent services with an extension attached to them so, for example, the frequent service that goes to Wallsend every 15 minutes throughout the day, every second service will go on to Maryland," said Keolis Downer CEO Campbell Mason.

In addition, the frequent service that goes to Charlestown every 15 minutes, every second one will go down to Belmont.

The core route will operate until midnight on weeknights and night owl services will run every hour on Friday and Saturday nights until 3am.

The new timetables come into effect on January 14, 2018.

Bus route map: http://newcastletransport.info/uploads/files/NT-NetworkMap-20171130a.pdf

Newcastle Transport Operator Starting 2018 With a Fresh Timetable

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle's private transport operator will certainly be starting the new year fresh when it comes to its transport network.

Keolis Downer announced their new Newcastle Transport network today which will be introduced from January 14, 2018 running across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

More than 1200 bus and ferry services, or 25 per cent more services, will be added to the timetable and the whole network is aimed to improve connections between suburbs and town centres. Services will run every 15 minutes during the day.

Keolis Downer CEO Campbell Mason said they've used a lot of community consultation from both people who use public transport and those who don't, to create the new timetable.

Keolis Downer CEO Campbell Mason.

"We really need to get them out of cars and onto buses and ferries so we've had a very extensive program of community engagement and programs to get input via our website, social pinpoint interactive site, direct representations and of course hearing from our staff."

The transport operator says they'll be carrying out a lot of communication to the public about the changes between now and January 14 including through advertising, the newcastletransport.info website which has an interactive map allowing you to drop a pin into the area you want to go and get details on the services which will be going through that particular point. 

Keolis Downer also plans to have an online travel concierge, customer service operators throughout the city and pop up sessions. 

Campbell says they've designed a network to better connect with train services as well.

"Obviously we have connections running into Cardiff, Broadmeadow Station and the Newcastle Interchange itself. One of the key things as I mentioned we've been hearing from the Lake Macquarie area, Swansea and Belmont in particular, is the need for better connection through to Cardiff."

The revamp of the system will also see the route numbers change from being three digits to just double digits.

"One of the things that we've been keen to do is to make sure we have a new network and have new and revised routes we need new numbers. Our experience has shown that people will be confused if you try and keep the old route numbers and change the route," said Campbell.

Newcastle 500 Transport Strategy Should make Travel a Breeze

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The transport plan for how thousands of people will be getting around during the Supercars Newcastle 500 event has finally been released.

There will be an integrated ticketing option with 300 additional buses and 90 more train services scheduled for the three-day event.

Park and ride services will be located not only from McDonald Jones Stadium to the Honeysuckle precinct, but also added across Newcastle Harbour at Stockton for the ferry service.

There will be two ferries running which can carry 200 passengers and crew each. The ferries will be running every 5 to 10 minutes.

Newcastle 500 Event Manager Kurt Sakzewski says the plan will easily enable 150,000 commuters to get in and out.

"We want to make sure all of those people can get in and out of the event in an easy manner and that's why we've introduced this integrated ticketing option so people will be able to come in whether it's via bus, ferry, train, in coming from Sydney and the outer regions,"

Event Manager Kurt Sakzewski.

"They'll be coming into Newcastle here, they'll be delivered to the gate and after the even, they'll take the same routes home as well," said Kurt Sakzewski.

The ticket you've purchased to get into the event itself will give you free public transport whatever it may be.

"The great thing about the integrated ticket is it doesn't matter what version of public transport that you want to take, you can get on a bus, get on a ferry, get on a train, you just show your event ticket and it just gives you access all of the way through for no extra cost," said Kurt Sakzewski.

Revitalising Newcastle Program Director Michael Cassel says they've tried to prepare for anything.

"We will have a command centre running throughout the three days to the event. That command centre will include everyone from police, event organisers, Keolis Downer, and people from NSW Transport so we'll be able to monitor what's going on and we'll be able to make changes as we move throughout the day and the night."

Event organisers have planned for people coming into the city from every possible way and they say this year will be a very good test to see how well they've planned.

"We can assess how it actually works after year one but we also keep an eye on where our ticket sales are from as well so gives us a little heads up but really it will be after the event itself that we will know the exact details and obviously in year two we will apply that to the plan," said Kurt Sakzewski.

Kurt admits it will be interesting to see how well people will be moved in and out of city on the Friday and Saturday nights but they've been working with police and every other transport agency to ensure everyone gets out in a timely manner.

The biggest piece of advice the organisers have is to catch public transport. Don't drive.

"We really want to encourage people to take public transport. All major events government use public transport to ferry people in and out and that would be the most efficient and least disruptive way to get in and out of the event," said Michael Cassel.

"This Government Needs to Get their Act Together": Newcastle MP on Transport Strategy

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp is demanding the government get their act together with a transport strategy for the Newcastle 500.

The Supercars race is only four weeks away and the government is yet to release a plan for how 150,000 visitors, as well as residents, will be travelling around the city.

Tim Crakanthorp said Newcastle is already dealing with a terrible transport system, so the sooner a plan is put together the better.

"Keolis Downer has a terrible record of running the buses in the city since they've taken over we're got nothing but problems. The drivers haven't been being paid properly, we've got superannuation issues, we've got school children being left on the side of the road. it's an absolute disgrace."

Keolis Downer will be faced with a myriad of challenges.

Hunter Street is closed for light rail construction forcing traffic along King Street, Wharf Road will be closed from Argyle Street during the race and racegoers who use the train service will be jumping off at the new Wickham interchange and travelling the remaining distance on a bus, by foot or on a bike.

Tim Crakanthorp said if people come and they can't get around, they may not ever come back to visit again.

"If they come here and its gridlock, I don't think they'll be coming back so we really need this government to get their act together, get this plan, work with Keolis Downer who have a terrible record at this point, and make sure the people of Newcastle can be confident that their beautiful city will be on display and people can actually see the race,"

"Now this minister needs to get very organised for this race because at the moment it's looking pretty damn difficult and I would say that this government needs to come out very quickly with a very good plan with Keolis Downer," said Tim Crakanthorp.

Van Mistakes Train Tracks for the Road in Maitland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are still on the scene neat Maitland Train Station after a van ended up on the train tracks this morning. 

Just before 10am, emergency services received reports of an Echo van on the tracks near the station carpark.

The car is in the process of being removed, but there is some damage to the track so there'll be spot work going on for around 2 hours once the van is removed.

Services between Telarah and Thornton are still suspended.

There is a limited bus service operating in place of the train service.

Image Wikipedia

Newcastle Transport Consultation in Wallsend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Residents are being urged to go along to an information session with Newcastle's transport operator this morning.

The consultation started at 9:30 at the Wallsend Plaza and goes until 12:30pm.

It comes after a string of problems with Keolis Downer underpaying works and cancelling a range of services, reportedly without any notice.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery is very happy the operator decided to hold consultation sessions out in her electorate and is urging everyone to go along.

"Accessible and reliable public transport is a priority for many in Wallsend. Thousands of residents in the western suburbs rely on public transport to get to work and school every day,"

"It is important that Wallsend residents make sure that their voices are heard on this issue."

Just another Problem for Keolis Downer in Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

There appears to be even more problems with Newcastle's private transport operator Keolis Downer.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp has been told by parents at St Pius X High School that buses have failed to pick their children up leaving them with no choice but to take them to school themselves.

On one occasion, a parent says the 816 bus that takes her son from The Junction to St Pius X High School failed to turn up twice.

Tim Crakanthorp says it's just not on.

"There's a lot wrong with this private operator at this point, but I've got real concerns with school kids being left alone on the side of the road with buses not turning up. That's a real problem."

Keolis Downer is already facing a lot of criticism across the board for their treatment of their drivers by underpaying them, not directly paying payments to superannuation and private healthcare, and also not handing over complete uniforms.

"It's up to this government to pull them into line, they've got a contract with them and there are rewards for increasing patronage, but I want to know if there are any penalties for missing kids, leaving kids on the side of the road and putting their health and safety at risk. That's what I want to know," said Tim Crakanthorp.

He says he'll be raising the issue in Parliament this week.

"I'm calling on Minister Constance to take control of this situation as we've had kids missed for buses for school on numerous occasions. So with over 300 bus services missed this minister really needs to step in ad pull this company into line. It's just not good enough."

Morale very low among Newcastle's bus drivers

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Transport operator Keolis Downer has only been operating in Newcastle for six weeks and already they're being blamed for mistreating and underpaying their workers.

Morale is reportedly very, very low among Newcastle's bus drivers as they deal with the frustration of allegedly being given incorrect wages, shift penalties and superannuation payments which has left them out of pocket for over a month.

Shadow Minister for the Hunter Kate Washington says the company is also blaming bus drivers for services being cancelled when in most situations it has been the company's fault alone.

"Six weeks in and we've seen 170 services cancelled and those cancellations have been blamed on the drivers. Drivers who aren't being paid for the hours they're working and that's just not on,"

Image showbus.com

"I've heard from at least three different drivers but I understand it is across the workforce and there are systemic problems in the system that Keolis Downer is trying to implement. Morale is very, very low amongst all the drivers, they don't feel like they're being given respect," said Kate Washington.

In a statement, Keolis Downer say there have been no cuts to services across Newcastle's public transport but they have had a lot of drivers unable to work due to the terrible flu season.

They say they are in the process of recruiting more drivers to make up for those unable to work and even though it's inconvenient for customers, they'd rather them be healthy and safe and not catch the flu from sick drivers.

Already they've welcomed eight new drivers to their Newcastle fleet in the past week.

But Kate Washington wants answers to the claims of mistreatment and she's written to the Transport Minister demanding support.

"It just feels like Newcastle has been the guinea pigs in all of this. And the government now needs to revise and review its plans to further privatise public transport elsewhere, there are plans afoot for Sydney and that needs to stop now."

One of Australia's richest men getting transport ideas off the ground in the Hunter Valley

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's been a plan in the making for some time, but hotel magnate Jerry Schwartz is finally getting his plans off the ground for a sea plane service in the Hunter.

The new sea plan service Blue Sky Airways is set to launch in August and will see a sea plane operate between Sydney Harbour to Newcastle harbour and out to Cessnock airport. An amphibious float fitted to the plan will allow it to land on both water and land.

Not only is he establishing the sea plane service, but in the next couple of weeks a shuttle bus service will start up between Newcastle airport and the CBD and out to the Hunter Valley.

Jerry Schwartz Image hotelmanagement.com.au

"Newcastle has its own airport but there's the same problem of getting from Newcastle airport to Newcastle city which is about a 35-minute drive and to the Hunter region so in the next week or so we will be starting a regular bus service that goes at the same time every day and connects these three centres," said Jerry Schwartz.

Jerry is one of the richest men in Australia and says there was a definite gap in the market for quicker and easier travel between Sydney and the Hunter, and he's filling it.

"The only way you can get there (Hunter Valley) is by car and that takes you about two and a half hours each way, so for the larger conferences we have we find that it's a definite impendence that distance and the ability to get there, so this is our first opportunity to connect the centres by air."

He adds his two transport ideas are something government should have looked into, and since they haven't he's decided to take the opportunity.

"One would've hoped the government would've done that most basically by having a train service to the Hunter, but there's no train service to the Hunter, you can't even catch the train to Newcastle, then the question is how do you get from the train station to your hotel in the Hunter? That's the big gap that I hope I'm able to fulfil by having a regular bus service," said Jerry.

Singleton want more public transport

BY TYLER FARDELL and JESSICA ROUSE

Community group Two More Trains for Singleton is teaming up with the council and business chamber, pushing for additional train services between Singleton and Maitland.

They met with the transport minister last week to discuss a new train timetable and a possible 10 year plan, aiming to provide residents with a more cost and time effective transport option.

Bus services are also looking to be an option; Mayor Sue Moore simply wants better service for the residents in her community.


"We've been pushing towards this for some time and we've sort of recently had the opportunity to take it a step forward with the cabinet meeting in Singleton with the minister on the ground to actually see what we've talking about. So I'm encouraging people that have continuing interest on it to get on board and have their say and we'll continue to push for those services."

At the moment Mayor Sue Moore says there is a coach service early in the day and again later in the day but it isn't enough particularly when there are residents who need to get to medical appointments and Tafe. 

Train break down in Maitland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Buses are still replacing trains between Maitland and Hamilton after a freight train broke down this morning.

The freight train experienced a mechanical fault before 10am causing it to break down near High Street.

A crane is currently on site to lift one of the wagons up off the track so repair work can be done to get the line moving again.

The repair job is expected to be completed early this afternoon.

Image Nick Bielby The Maitland Mercury
http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/4701108/broken-freight-train-shuts-hunter-line/?cs=171#slide=6