Liverpool–Parramatta T-way

Liverpool–Parramatta T-way
Overview
Type Bus rapid transit
System T-ways
Status Active
Locale Sydney
Termini Liverpool
Parramatta
Stations 35
Operation
Opened February 2003
Owner Transport for NSW
Operator(s) Transit Systems Sydney
Technical
Line length 30 km (19 mi)

The Liverpool–Parramatta T-way is a bus rapid transit line in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. "T-way" is short for rapid bus transitway.

Route and services

The 31 km (19.3 mi) T-way links the railway stations at Parramatta and Liverpool via a series of bus-only roadways and bus lanes. Services using the T-way are operated by Transit Systems Sydney. Before that, these services were operated by Western Sydney Buses (a subsidiary of the State Transit Authority). They were under Sydney Bus Region 3 and were transferred to Transit Systems Sydney on 13 October 2013, who won the tender to be the new operator of the region including the T-way.

A long-awaited first step in a plan to improve public transport services in Sydney's western suburbs, the T-way initially failed to live up to expectations, carrying half the number of passengers expected.[1] Patronage has increased significantly, with annual patronage increasing by 328,000 in 2006.[2] Patronage continues to grow, and in 2014-15 services were operating at capacity.[3]

Design and construction

A T-way station

The T-way was constructed as a joint venture between the New South Wales Ministry of Transport and the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales opening in February 2003 at a cost of $345.7 million.[4]

The line runs through the central business district of Parramatta, before heading onto the Great Western Highway to South Wentworthville, after which it heads onto its own alignment next to the Sydney Water pipeline that runs from Prospect reservoir. It then proceeds on its own alignment in an old freeway reservation through to Hoxton Park. At Brickmakers' Creek in Liverpool it heads onto its own alignment to the centre of Liverpool and the railway station bus interchange.

The T-way has 35 stations, spaced approx. every 800 metres. These stations are more substantial than normal bus stops, which has led to criticism that the system is overly costly and vulnerable to vandalism. These stations have:[1]

Services

There are a number of services using portions of the T-way. The only service to have the prefix T is T80, which runs along the whole stretch of the T-way. In the financial year ended June 2012, 2.77 million passengers used the T-way services.[5]

Provision of the service T80 was put out to tender and an eight-year contract awarded to Western Sydney Buses.[4] Services were initially provided by 17 natural-gas Mercedes-Benz O405NH buses in blue and yellow T-way livery. These were replaced in 2004 by diesel Volvo B12BLEs. All services are wheelchair-accessible and air-conditioned.

Since October 2013 services have been operated by Transit Systems Sydney as part of its Sydney Bus Region 3 contract.[5] All State Transit bus fleet used for the T-way were transferred to Transit Systems Sydney. The liveries of these buses still show the colours of State Transit, blue and white, with some now in the Transport NSW livery. Buses inherited from State Transit have on-board audio announcements and green automatic validating machines. All buses on the T80 route both inherited and new are Opal activated as at 14 July 2014.

Service frequency

Hours of operation (time of departure)

Liverpool–Parramatta stations

The Liverpool–Parramatta T-way serves Parramatta, Mays Hill, South Wentworthville, Merrylands West, Woodpark, Smithfield, Wetherill Park, Prairiewood, Busby, Cartwright, Miller, Prestons, Lurnea and Liverpool. Most services stop at all stations, with a limited service running only between Bonnyrigg and Parramatta. Stations are as follows:

Name of station
(Major stations in italics)		 Fare Section Stopping Patterns Suburbs Served Connections
Liverpool–Parramatta T-way
Liverpool 19 Liverpool ■ Airport, Inner West & South Line, ■ Bankstown Line, ■ Cumberland Line, South West Rail Link, Connecting Bus Services in Liverpool
Macquarie 18 Liverpool
Memorial 18 Liverpool
Brickmakers 17 Liverpool
Maxwells 16 Cartwright, Lurnea Bus routes 802, 803, 853, 854
Ash 15 Miller, Prestons Bus routes 853, 854
Miller 14 Miller, Hinchinbrook, Hoxton Park Bus routes 853, 854
Hinchinbrook 14 Hinchinbrook, Miller
Cartwright 14 Hinchinbrook, Miller, Busby
Busby 13 Busby, Green Valley Bus routes 805, S10
Green Valley 12 Green Valley, Bonnyrigg Heights Bus route 807
Brown 12 Bonnyrigg Heights
Bonnyrigg 12 Bonnyrigg Bus routes 802, 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 813, 816, 817
Clear Paddock 12 Bonnyrigg
St Johns 11 St Johns Park, Wakeley, Prairiewood Bus services 804 819
Orphan School 10 Prairiewood, Bossley Park Bus routes 819
Prairiewood 10 Prairiewood, Bossley Park Bus Routes 800, 806, 808, 813, 817, 819, 835
Horsley 9 Bossley Park, Wetherill Park Bus Routes 800, 806, 808, 813
Victoria 9 Wetherill Park Bus Routes 800, 806, 808, 812
Elizabeth 8 Wetherill Park Bus Route 806
Wetherill 8 Wetherill Park
Hassall 7 Wetherill Park, Prospect
Gipps 6 Smithfield, Greystanes, Prospect Bus Routes 806, 812
Cooper 6 Smithfield Bus Route 821
Smithfield 5 Smithfield Bus Route 821
Warren 4 Smithfield, Woodpark Bus Route 821
Woodpark 4 Woodpark, Guildford West
Canal 3 Merrylands West
Sherwood 3 Woodpark Bus Routes 806
Centenary 2 South Wentworthville
Finlayson 2 Wentworthville,
South Wentworthville
Coleman 1 Westmead, Wentworthville,
South Wentworthville
Mays Hill 1 Westmead, Mays Hill
Pitt 0 Parramatta
Parramatta 0 Parramatta ■ North Shore, Northern & Western Line, ■ Cumberland Line, ■ Blue Mountains Line, Connecting Bus Services in Parramatta

T-ways in Sydney

Main article: T-way

T-ways were conceived as an alternative to commuter railway services because of their potential lower cost and higher flexibility. T-ways can be constructed without the need for a dedicated corridor or tunnel. Buses can join and leave the T-way along the route, giving the T-way a wider feeder area than rail.

T-ways are separate bus-only roads where undeveloped railway and motorway corridors are available, and as bus-only lanes on existing roads.

T-ways can be used only by rapid bus services, selected local bus services and emergency vehicles. Other motorists using a bus lane (except to turn or overtake) can be fined. There are other bus-only roads in Sydney, including at Moore Park and a dedicated roadway in the centre of the M2 Hills Motorway. Sydney has a large and expanding network of bus-only lanes on main roads.

References

  1. 1 2 Jordan Baker (2006-08-25). "Transport's vision splendid running at only half capacity". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
  2. ↑ Jordan Baker (2006-12-06). "Bus use defended". Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. ↑ "5. Service Delivery - Volume Six 2015 Transport". Audit Office of New South Wales. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015. The heavily patronised T80 Parramatta to Liverpool T-way service continues to grow and operate at capacity in region three.
  4. 1 2 Auditor General's Report Liverpool to Parramatta Bus Transitway Auditor General of NSW December 2005
  5. 1 2 State Transit Authority Annual Report State Transport Authority 30 June 2012
  6. ↑ "Route T80 timetable" (PDF). Transit Systems, Sydney. 27 July 2015.
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