Liverpool–Parramatta T-way

The Liverpool–Parramatta T-way is a continuous series of bus-only lanes and bus roadways between Parramatta and Liverpool in Western Sydney. Completed in February 2003, the 31 km (19.3 mi) T-way was the first bus rapid transit infrastructure to be built in Sydney.[1]

Liverpool–Parramatta T-way
Overview
OperatorTransit Systems
Began serviceFebruary 2003 (2003-02)
Route
StartLiverpool station
ViaBonnyrigg
EndParramatta station
Length31 km (19.3 mi)

Design and construction

A project of the then New South Wales Ministry of Transport and the Roads & Traffic Authority, the T-way cost $346 million to build.[2]

The route 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 system includes active traffic signal priority to give buses preference where the route crosses other roadways.[3]

Stations

The Liverpool–Parramatta T-way has 35 stations, spaced approximately every 800 metres. These stations are more substantial than conventional bus stops, which has led to criticism that the system is overly costly and vulnerable to vandalism. Stations feature closed circuit television, real-time information screens, emergency help points, audio announcements and extensive landscaping.[4]

One station, Parramatta Station, also forms part of the North-West T-way. The other stations are, from Parramatta:

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.[2] 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.

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 had on-board audio announcements and green automatic validating machines which have since been replaced by Opal validators like other buses.

T80 was the first Rapid bus route in Sydney.[1]

References
  1. Transit Systems secures Region 6 Bus Contract (Final Paragraph) Transit Systems
  2. Auditor General's Report Liverpool to Parramatta Bus Transitway Auditor General of NSW December 2005
  3. Currie, Graham (2010). "Bus Rapid Transit in Australasia: An Update on Progress". Built Environment. 36 (3): 334. JSTOR 23289722.
  4. Jordan Baker (25 August 2006). "Transport's vision splendid running at only half capacity". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
  5. State Transit Authority Annual Report State Transport Authority 30 June 2012
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