Sydney buses all-electric plan

Sydney’s diesel bus fleet will be replaced by electric vehicles under a transport reform proposed by transport minister Andrew Constance.

“Making the switch to an entirely electric bus fleet will deliver huge benefits to the community in terms of reducing air and noise pollution, as well as our incredible drivers,” he says.

“As part of this process, we will challenge the industry to begin an ambitious transformation of our bus fleet from particulate emitting diesel to zero-emission buses.

“The experience of other leading European cities demonstrates that a rapid transition to zero-emission buses is possible and I have asked Transport for NSW to work with operators and bus suppliers to develop a plan to transition our fleet as part of the tender process.”

Constance says zero-emission buses are becoming the standard with significant environmental, health and operational cost benefits being experienced in cities like London, Paris and Amsterdam.

“As a truly global city Sydney deserves the same.”

The NSW Government will invite the world’s leading public transport operators to bid for contracts for 13 of Sydney’s bus contract regions over the next three years, including the three remaining State Transit operated regions.

Bus customers will receive additional services and innovative on demand options under new contracts to lift the standard of transport across Sydney, Constance says.

He says bus patronage has increased by more than 50% during the past six years.

“This rate of growth outstrips that of all other forms of public transport and we need to address this increasing demand as a matter of urgency.”

He expects contracts will be out to tender by early 2020, with the state’s aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The NSW Government will continue to own State Transit buses and all other assets such as depots, regulate timetables, safety and service priorities, and set fares under the Opal system.

Four electric buses were introduced as a trial under Transit Systems in Sydney’s inner west.

The city has 27,000 daily bus services.