NightRide
| NightRide | |
|---|---|
  |
|
| Mode | Commuter bus Rail replacement service |
| Owner | Transport for NSW |
| Operator(s) | Hillsbus Punchbowl Bus Company Transdev NSW |
| Connects | Town Hall Strathfield Sutherland Cronulla Rockdale Riverwood Macarthur East Hills Liverpool Fairfield Penrith Hornsby |
| Stations | 120 |
| Key dates | |
| 1989 | Service established |
| 2002 | N1 service discontinued |
| 2009 | N100 service introduced |
| 2011 | N61 service introduced |
| 2011 | N71 service reintroduced |
NightRide is a network of bus routes in operation between midnight and 05:00am in Sydney, Australia. The thirteen routes are run by private bus operators and allow for a nightly shutdown of the Sydney Trains commuter rail network. Established by the New South Wales Ministry of Transport and monitored by Transport for NSW, NightRide has been in operation since June 1989.[1] It is designed to provide for track maintenance, lower running costs and improved customer safety. Prior to the introduction of NightRide, trains on the Sydney commuter network had run on a 24-hour basis, although at much lower frequencies during NightRide hours than at other times.[2]
It commenced operating on 18 June 1989, initially with three routes to Riverwood, Campbelltown and Sutherland paralleling train services.[3] It was later extended throughout Sydney and 24-hour train services in Sydney ceased.
Most services run from George Street outside Town Hall railway station. The NightRide network closely mirrors the Sydney Trains network, with allowances made for the fact that major roads and railway lines often follow quite different alignments.
Sydney Trains tickets are valid on NightRide services, provided they are a Return ticket or higher (Single journey tickets are not valid). Single (one-way) tickets may also be purchased from the driver.[4][5] Since 12 April 2014 in conjunction with the introduction of the Opal card fares are charged at bus rates on the basis of the distance travelled. [6] N100 is free when boarding at King's Cross citybound.
NightRide buses operate between midnight and 04:30am on an hourly frequency. Frequency variations for each route are shown below. Sydney Trains services operate all other times. Bus drivers may set-down passengers at local bus stops on route between designated NightRide stops.
NightRide network[edit]
The following routes that run on the Nightride network include:[5][7]
- N10: Town Hall to Sutherland, via Rockdale and Hurstville. Two additional hourly trips from Town Hall to Kogarah on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.Operated by Punchbowl Bus Company.
- N11: Town Hall to Cronulla, via Rockdale and Hurstville. Operated by Punchbowl Bus Company.
- N20: Rockdale to Riverwood. Operated by Punchbowl Bus Company.
- N30: Town Hall to Macarthur, via Canterbury and Liverpool. Half hourly from Town Hall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Operated by Transdev NSW.
- N40: Town Hall to East Hills, via Bankstown and Padstow. One additional hourly trip from Town Hall to Lakemba on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Operated by Transdev NSW.
- N50: Town Hall to Liverpool, via Regents Park and Fairfield. One additional hourly trip from Town Hall to Strathfield on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Operated by Transdev NSW.
- N60: Town Hall to Fairfield, via Granville and Parramatta. Half hourly from Town Hall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Operated by Hillsbus.
- N61: Town Hall to Carlingford, via Clyde (Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning Service). Operated by Hillsbus.
- N70: Town Hall to Penrith, via Parramatta and Blacktown. Operated by Hillsbus.
- N71: Town Hall to Richmond, via Parramatta and Blacktown (Friday, Saturday and Sunday Morning Service). This service was first trialled in the early 2000 but was discontinued in 2002. It was reinstated in October 2011. Operated by Hillsbus.
- N80: Town Hall to Hornsby, via Epping. Operated by Transdev NSW.
- N90: Town Hall to Hornsby, via North Sydney and Chatswood. One additional hourly trip from Town Hall to Gordon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Operated by Transdev NSW.
- N100: Railway Square to Bondi Junction, via Martin Place Half hourly Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning service. Operated by Transdev NSW.
NightRide services N61 and N71 commenced on 23 October 2011.
Discontinued routes[edit]
- N1 City Circle Loop Service that ran from 2000 until it was discontinued on 1 November 2002.[8]
St Peters was also previously serviced by NightRide services N10 and N11.
References[edit]
- ^ "Nightride services" Fleetline August 1989 page 120
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/late-night-travellers-vote-with-their-feet-to-dump-nightride-20140308-34e0v.html
- ^ "Nightride Bus Service Starts" Railway Digest August 1989 page 271
- ^ NightRide bus tickets, Transport NSW Info, Retrieved 5 November 2014
- ^ a b NightRide buses NSW Transport Info Retrieved 28 December 2014
- ^ Opal Bus Fare Information, Opal, Retrieved 5 November 2014
- ^ NightRide bus network NSW Transport Info Retrieved 5 November 2014
- ^ "Changes to NightRide Buses: 1 November 2002", Action for Public Transport (NSW), retrieved 28 March 2006
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