Busways On Demand Bus Services - :Lester Pasley

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The NSW Transport Chain of Command - Lester Pasley- Mount Druitt Commuters

Lester Pasley

7 hrs

The Transport Chain of Command.
Who's Who in the Transport Cluster and their date of appointment to current role:

1. Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
The Hon. Andrew Constance, MP - April 2015
Member for Bega (LIB)
Senior Minister in the Transport Cluster. Has oversight responsibility of Junior Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries in the Transport Cluster.

1a. Junior Ministers reporting to the Minister for Transport

The Hon. Melinda Pavey, MP - January 2017
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight
Member for Oxley (NAT)

The Hon. Stuart Ayres, MP - January 2017
Minister for Western Sydney, WestConnex and Sport
Member for Penrith (LIB)

Mr Mark Coure, MP - February 2017
Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure
Member for Oatley (LIB)

Mr Kevin Anderson, MP - February 2017
Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Roads, Maritime and Transport
Member for Tamworth (NAT)

2. Transport for NSW (TfNSW)
Secretary - Mr Rodd Staples - December 2017
Principal Agency in the Transport portfolio. The Secretary reports directly to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure for all parts of the Transport portfolio.

Rodd Staples is an engineer and was previously the CEO of the Sydney Metro Delivery Office.

3. Operating Agencies within Transport for NSW (TfNSW)
The CEOs report directly to the Secretary for TfNSW on matters relating to their agencies.

NSW Ports
CEO - Ms Marika Calfas - September 2013

Marika Calfas has held senior roles in Sydney Ports.

NSW TrainLink
CEO - Mr Howard Collins - February 2017
Dual appointment held concurrently with Sydney Trains.

Office of Transport Safety Investigations
CEO - Mr Mick Quinn - June 2017
Mick Quinn was previously Deputy CEO of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Roads and Maritime Services
CEO - Mr Ken Kanofski - August 2016
Ken Kanofski was previously Director of Journey Management in RMS and CEO of WSN Environmental Solutions P/L.

Sydney Metro Delivery Office
CEO - Mr Tom Gellibrand - December 2017
Tom Gellibrand was previously Deputy Secretary, Plan Making and Urban Renewal in the Department of Planning.

Sydney Trains
CEO - Mr Howard Collins - July 2013
Also CEO of NSW TrainLink since February 2017
Howard Collins was previously CEO of London Transport.

State Transit Authority of NSW
CEO - Mr Steffen Faurby - March 2017
Steffen Faurby was previously CEO of Harbour City Ferries, the operator of Sydney Ferries.

4. Operators of Ferry Services under contract to Transport for NSW.

Harbour City Ferries (Transdev)
CEO - Mr Martin Kearney
Harbour City Ferries operates Sydney Ferries services in the Inner Harbour, Manly and Parramatta under a franchise arrangement to the Government.

Manly Fast Ferry (NRMA)
CEO - Mr Richard Ford
Manly Fast Ferry operates under contract to Transport for NSW the fast ferry service to Manly previously operated by Sydney Ferries Hydrofoils and JetCats.

SeaLink (Captain Cook Cruises)
CEO - Mr Jeff Ellison
SeaLink operates Inner Harbour and Darling Harbour ferry runs previously operated by Maltida Cruises Rocket Ferry and Hegarty's Ferry.

5. Light Rail
Sydney Light Rail (Transdev)
CEO - Mr Brian Brennan
Sydney Light Rail operates tram services from Central to Dulwich Hill under contract to Transport for NSW.

Rail Heritage Week - Events for the Family - 'Mount Druitt Commuters Face Book Group'

Author:Lester Pasley

 RAIL HERITAGE WEEKEND AT CENTRAL COMING UP

This coming weekend is a 3 day rail heritage festival in Sydney covering steam trains, railmotors and electric vintage trains alongside heritage buses and for the lucky few a tunnel tour. Operating out of Central railway station and passing through many heritage stations, trains will again enable people to revisit the olden days style of passenger transport around Sydney and NSW. This event is popular attracting thousands of people ....kids and adult alike. This year will see 6029, 3642, Red rattlers and CPH railmotors taking part in numerous trips around Sydney metro area.

We have compiled the operations into a list below for users to find their favourite train rides and operations.

Loco 3526 'The Nanny' Sun/Mon 10.00am* Steam train trips from Central to Hurstville SUN MON only

Red Rattlers Sat/Sun/Mon 10.10am, Departs from Central Station Platform 1 to Erskenville and return via city circle

CPH railmotor Sat/Sun/Mon 10.25am, Sydney Metropolitan Freights lines through Chullora and Enfield over all three days.

Loco 6029 'The Garratt' 10.30am* Steam train trips from Central to Hurstville SUN MON only

Loco 3526 'The Nanny' Sun/Mon 12.10pm Steam train trips from Central to Hurstville

CPH railmotor Sat/Sun/Mon 12.25pm, Sydney Metropolitan Freights lines through Chullora and Enfield over all three days.

Red Rattlers Sat/Sun/Mon 12.30pm, Departs from Central Station Platform 1 to Erskenville and return via city circle

Loco 6029 'The Garratt' Sat/Sun/Mon 12.40pm Steam train trips from Central to Hurstville

Loco 3526 'The Nanny' Sat/Sun/Mon 1.30pm Steam train trips from Central to Hurstville

Loco 6029 'The Garratt' Sat/Sun/Mon 2.05pm Steam train trips from Central to Hurstville

CPH railmotor Sat/Sun/Mon 2.10pm Sydney Metropolitan Freights lines through Chullora and Enfield over all three days.

Red Rattlers Sat/Sun/Mon 2.30pm** East Hills shuttle: 1.5 hours

Loco 3526 'The Nanny' Sat/Sun/Mon 3.05pm Steam train trips from Central to Hurstville

Loco 6029 'The Garratt' Sat/Sun/Mon 3.30pm Steam train trips from Central to Hurstville

SUGGESTION - For everyone who wants the events to keep going, it is recommended by Sydney Trains announcements that people need to stand behind the yellow line and take photos safely. Being totally focused on train photos and not on the environment around you can cause unexpected problems. Please dont put your self and others at risk or the entire event .....by acting like people did last year as shown in the photos below, where some were observed standing 1mm off the edge of platforms or way over the yellow line while taking photos of operational trains. They could have been easily bumped by other people jostling for photos and fallen off or over.....it only takes one slip, fall and you are are then on a railway track. This fall can result in a death or serious injuries to young and old. Treading carefully in wet weather is also another issue to be careful of with rain forecasted across the event. By following the simple rules and regulations this will ensure you and others dont cause the event public, event staff and others.....unwanted hassles and paperwork problems......

Click here for Rail Heritage Week further details

Do Busways Bus Drivers Treat Fare Evaders Different To Other Bus Region

From Lester, secretary of the  Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc. and  'whyilovemountdruitt' Face Book group member, an interesting topic that we  don't like to talk about. Maybe if there are any educators out in our community, we can send a strong message of  paying fare is fare for our community.

I'm sue that a majority of our community do 'Tap on' and 'Tap off' using the Opal Card. I had witnessed this many times.

Here is  what Lester has witness from  Bus operators around Sydney:

Some observations I've noted on how different bus companies deal with fare evaders on their buses.

On a recent trip on Busways Route 759 from Lethbridge Park to Mt Druitt Interchange, some boys got on the bus at Emerton Village without tapping on. They were not challenged by the female driver because of their big build. The boys got off the bus along Carlisle Avenue. I asked the driver why she did not challenge the boys when the bus reached Mt Druitt Interchange. She said she and her colleagues had been advised by their Manager at the depot not to challenge fare evaders because they are vulnerable.

I recall a story on "A Current Affair" where some Transport for NSW Ticket Inspectors boarded a Busways bus at Mt Druitt and found half had not bothered to tap on. There were plenty of  "F" and "C" words floating about when the Inspectors wrote out fines.  The Transport for NSW Ticket Inspectors now have jurisdiction to check fares on private buses as the private bus companies are now contractors and operate routes under contract to the Government under a franchise  model.

On the Transit Systems Route 804 from Parramatta to Fairfield and Transdev Route 905 from Fairfield to Bankstown, I've observed both Transit Systems and Transdev drivers openly challenging passengers not tapping on.  If they don't have enough credit on their Opal cards, they then pay a cash fare to the driver who issues a paper ticket.  These two bus companies obviously have a different policy to Busways.

Likewise travelling on a few State Transit bus routes operating out of the City, their drivers also challenge passengers who don't tap on.

Editors notes: this is where when Busways is tendering for the  NSW Bus Region 1, they can outline what their Busways Bus drivers do to prevent fare evasion. If their bus drivers saying nothing allowing kit to happen - is this  Busways Policy? Stake holders could consider the tending  based on this.

Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc & Blacktown City Council Supports Airconditioned Bus And Trains Petition

Lester Pasley, Secretary of the Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc., has received a letter  of response from General Manager, Blacktown City Council on Air-Conditioned Buses and Trains in Mount Druitt and Surrounding Suburbs. So now we gained more support from our local Transport  community advocacy group and  the City of Blacktown Council.

So have gone bigger and with support going from local community to local Councillors like Carol Israel, who stand strong behind our community with improvements and  very passionate of our community as well.

Click here for Lester Pasley's letter of Response from Blacktown City Council


Click here for previous post

I thank Lester and the Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc. to take on this valid, vital and worthwhile community improvement that is required. We pay for buses and train services to provide us comfort along our journeys, wherever we go.

Busways Blacktwown/Plumpton & Penrith Depots Worse Amount of Non-Airdconditioned Buses, within NSW Bus Rehion 1 After 25 Years - Lester- 'Mount Druitt Commuters Group'

It seems that after Lester, Secretary of the Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc. has done the number crunching figures - that Busways Blacktown (Plumpton), has the worse number of  non-airconditioned buses in their depot, within  NSW Bus region 1.

This is why Busways bus drivers are travelling in heat days complaining about not been properly looked after for comfort and want to return 'unair-conditioned buses' for air-conditioned buses.  Here is the report from Lester:

Make up of the Busways fleet in Sydney with the number of air conditioned and non-air conditioned buses allocated to the three main depots in Sydney.

Blacktown Depot.
155 buses. 46 non A/C. 109 A/C.
...

Mulgrave Depot.
50 buses. 14 non A/C. 36 A/C.
Penrith Depot.
91 buses. 38 non A/C. 53 A/C.
Pymble Head Office.
2 buses. Both A/C.
The non air-conditioned buses in the fleet entered service between 1992 and 2000.

We notice that Busways  Head Office is catered first: North of Sydney First, then Western Sydney.

I know Rome wasn't built in a day but air-conditioned buses seem to be  more than a quarter of a century to have them serviced in our area.  This takes into account if they blame NSW Transport or NDSW transport blames them.  This presents a good reason for a community petition to commence.

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No Wonder Busways Has Not Got 100% Airconditioned Buses..... 'whyilovemountdruitt' Face Book Group

Lester from  a member of 'whyilovemountdruitt'  Face book Page has produced a researched report that confirms that 166 buses are not air-conditioned within NSW. Now with this fact coming through, we need  Blacktown City Council Councillors, Transport Department, NSW Members for Mount Druitt, Londonderry and Mulgoa to actively raise this issue in NSW State Parliament and  sent shock waves to Busways  and NSW IPART as we are all paying full fares, when we haven't got the right amount of buses that make our commuters travel comfortably.

 Until we have got the justified amount of buses air-conditioned (being 100%) NSW IPART should  review fares within Mount Druitt and NSW Bus Region 1. Taxis are provided fully air-conditioned, so why not other public transport vehicles?


Here is Lester's Report:

perusal of the Busways fleet on the Bus Australia website reveals that Busways has 768 buses spread over 17 depots in NSW.
Of those 768 buses, 602 have air conditioning and 166 are not air conditioned. The arrival of 18 new buses last year with fleet numbers in the 1200 series have enabled the withdrawal of some of the older non-air conditioned fleet.

The 166 non-air conditioned fleet consists of:
159 Mercedes Benz 0405
3 Mercedes Benz 0405NH (low floor)
3 MAN 16.240
1 MAN 18.260
These buses are allocated mainly to the 3 Sydney depots (Blacktown, Mulgrave, Penrith) and the 2 Central Coast depots (Gosford, Wyong) with a small number amongst the 11 North Coast depots allocated to school runs.
The majority of the air-conditioned buses came with the takeover of King Brothers Port Macquarie which operated the 11 North Coast depots. Further air conditioned buses were inherited from Westbus in 2014 with the new Region One contracts.
Busways founder, Dick Rowe, resisted having air conditioned and low floor buses for a long time. However, in 2005 as a result of the Unsworth review, the State Government took ownership of all bus routes in NSW. The existing bus companies including the Government owned State Transit became contractors to the Government with the Department of Transport, now Transport for NSW, becoming the regulator setting fares and service standards.
One benefit of the Government takeover was air conditioned low floor buses became mandatory for new buses. Dick Rowe had no choice if he wanted to retain his contracts. The first new air conditioned low floor buses arrived in the Busways fleet in 2007 first in White and after 2011 in Blue and White.
The current bus allocation of the Busways fleet is:
Sydney Depots
Blacktown - 147
Mulgrave - 62
Penrith - 104
Pymble Head Office - 2
Central Coast Depots
Gosford - 107
Wyong - 62
North Coast Depots
Bulahdelah - 23
Coffs Harbour - 31
Grafton - 25
Heatherbrae - 21
Kempsey - 22
Laurieton - 28
Macksville - 25
Port Macquarie - 56
Raleigh - 15
Wauchope- 19
Yamba - 19

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Click here if you want to support Air-conditioned buses Petition