Metrobus (Sydney)

Metrobus
Overview
Owner	Transport for NSW
Locale	Sydney
Transit type	Bus
Number of lines	13
Operation
Began operation	2008-2011
Operator(s)	Hillsbus State Transit Transdev NSW Transit Systems

Metrobus blade stop sign at Chester Hill with the name of the stop and a red lower section indicating that the stop is served by Metrobuses

Metrobus is an Australian high frequency, high capacity bus network in Sydney that links key employment and growth centres. Metrobuses run every 10 minutes during peak periods, 15 minutes during off-peak weekday periods, and 20 minutes on weekends, with the intention of making timetables obsolete. Buses are painted in a distinctive red livery and all Metrobuses are wheelchair accessible. All route numbers are prefixed with an "M" followed by 2 numbers.

History

Sydney Buses Volgren bodied Volvo B12BLEA

Hillsbus Volgren bodied Scania K280UB in July 2013

Transdev NSW Volgren bodied Volvo B7RLE in June 2015

The network originally operated along bus trunk routes through the inner suburbs, but passed through the CBD rather than terminating there. This reduced overcrowding on the trunk routes without needing to layover extra buses in the CBD. This concept was later diluted with the network's expansion to include long distance routes servicing major activity centres in outer suburbs.

The first route, M10 from Leichhardt to Kingsford, began operation on a 12-month trial basis on 12 October 2008. During this period nine regular and six high-capacity buses with different seating arrangements were dedicated to the route.

In March 2009 an expansion of the Metrobus network with the addition of four further routes serving the inner suburbs (M20, M30, M40, M50) was announced.

In July 2010 it was announced a further eight new Metrobus routes were to be rolled out in 2011 to service suburbs in Sydney's west, north, north-west, south and south-west (M41, M52, M54, M60, M61, M90, M91, M92). This saw Hillsbus and Veolia Transport (now Transdev NSW) become Metrobus operators.

Routes M10, M20, M30, M41 and M50 were included in the transfer of region 6 from State Transit to Transit Systems on 1 July 2018.

Operational history

Date	Event
12 Oct 2008	M10 commences
26 Oct 2009	M20 commences
28 Mar 2010	M30 commences
18 Jul 2010	M40 commences
8 Aug 2010	M52 commences
10 Oct 2010	M54 commences
31 Oct 2010	M50 commences
6 Dec 2010	M90 commences
19 Dec 2010	M41 commences
20 Dec 2010	M61 commences
7 Feb 2011	M91 commences
7 Mar 2011	M60 commences
14 Mar 2011	M92 commences

Tickets & fares

All Metrobus services use the Opal card system to validate tickets. Metrobus routes M10, M20, M30, M40, M50, M52 and M54 are full-time pre-pay only services and require passengers to purchase a ticket before boarding.

Routes

M10: Leichhardt to Maroubra Junction

M10
Overview
Operator	Transit Systems
Route
Start	Leichhardt
Via	Camperdown Central station Museum station Taylor Square University of New South Wales Kingsford
End	Maroubra Junction
Service
Level	Daily

M10 runs from Leichhardt to Maroubra Junction via Parramatta Road and Anzac Parade, and commenced on 12 October 2008. The M10 Metrobus service connects with Sydney Trains stations at Central and Museum. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Broadway, Railway Square, Cleveland Street and Kingsford.

On 28 December 2008, the M10 was curtailed to Leichhardt Town Hall no longer operating to MarketPlace due to issues raised by Leichhardt Council regarding buses laying over in Lords Road. On 14 November 2010 the M10 was extended to the corner of Norton and William Streets at Leichhardt Pioneer Park. On 26 October 2009, the M10 was extended from Kingsford to Maroubra Junction. The M10 originally proceeded up George Street before turning into Park and Elizabeth Streets. On 4 October 2015, it was altered to operate via Pitt Street, Eddy Avenue and Elizabeth Street.

When the CBD and South East Light Rail opens in 2019, it is proposed to abolish the City to Maroubra Junction section.

M20: Gore Hill to Botany

M20
Overview
Operator	Transit Systems
Route
Start	Gore Hill
Via	North Sydney Town Hall station Central station Green Square Mascot
End	Botany
Service
Level	Daily

M20 runs from Gore Hill to Botany via the Pacific Highway, Town Hall station and Botany Road, and commenced on 26 October 2009. The M20 metrobus service connects with Sydney Trains stations at St Leonards, North Sydney, Wynyard, Town Hall and Central. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Queen Victoria Building and Railway Square. M20 was extended from Mascot to Botany shops on 27 February 2011.

M30: Taronga Zoo to Sydenham

M30
Overview
Operator	Transit Systems
Route
Start	Taronga Zoo
Via	Mosman Cremorne Town Hall station Central station Sydney University Newtown station
End	Sydenham station
Service
Level	Daily

M30 runs from Taronga Zoo to Sydenham station via Military Road, Town Hall station and King Street, and commenced on 28 March 2010. The M30 connects with Sydney Trains stations at Wynyard, Town Hall, Central, Newtown and Sydenham. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Neutral Bay Junction, Queen Victoria Building and Railway Square. This service was originally planned to terninate at Enmore Park although Sydenham was chosen as a more appropriate terminus. The M30 originally operated between Town Hall and Central stations via George Street. On 4 October 2015 it was diverted to operate via Park and Elizabeth Streets and Eddy Avenue. It originally commenced at Spit Junction. On 26 November 2017, it was extended to the top gate of Taronga Zoo, replacing daytime services of route 247.

M40: Chatswood to Bondi Junction

M40
Overview
Operator	State Transit
Route
Start	Chatswood station
Via	Willoughby Town Hall station Museum station Taylor Square Paddington
End	Bondi Junction station
Service
Level	Daily

M40 runs from Chatswood station to Bondi Junction station via Willoughby Road, Wynyard station, Town Hall station and Oxford Street, and commenced on 18 July 2010. The M40 connects with Sydney Trains stations at Chatswood, Wynyard, Town Hall, Museum and Bondi Junction stations. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Chatswood, Queen Victoria Building, Wynyard, and Bondi Junction.

M41: Hurstville to Marsfield

M41
Overview
Operator	Transit Systems
Route
Start	Hurstville
Via	Bexley North station Clemton Park Campsie station Burwood station Concord Hospital Rhodes station Top Ryde City Macquarie Centre
End	Marsfield
Service
Level	Daily

M41 runs from Hurstville to Marsfield via Bexley North, Clemton Park, Campsie, Burwood, Concord Hospital, Top Ryde City and Macquarie Centre, and commenced on 19 December 2010. The M41 connects passengers to Sydney Trains stations at Hurstville, Bexley North, Campsie, Burwood, Rhodes, Macquarie Park and Macquarie University. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Hurstville, Top Ryde City and Macquarie Centre.

M50: Drummoyne to Coogee

M50
Overview
Operator	Transit Systems
Route
Start	Drummoyne
Via	Town Hall station Central station Cleveland Street Randwick
End	Coogee Beach
Service
Level	Daily

M50 runs from Drummoyne to Coogee Beach via Victoria Road, the Anzac Bridge, CBD, Fox Studios, Randwick Racecourse, Randwick shops and The Spot, and commenced on 31 October 2010. The M50 connects with Sydney Trains stations at Town Hall, and Museum. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to the Moore Park area. This service was originally planned to terminate at Randwick although Coogee Beach was decided to be a more appropriate terminus.

Prior to March 2017, M50 originally ran along Anazc Parade and High Street, passing through Kensington, University of New South Wales and the Prince of Wales Hospital. However, due to construction of the CBD and South East Light Rail along High Street, M50 was amended to travel Alison Road and through Randwick shops.

When the CBD and South East Light Rail opens in 2019, it is proposed to abolish the city to Coogee section.

M52: Parramatta to Circular Quay

M52
Overview
Operator	State Transit
Predecessors	Route L20
Route
Start	Parramatta station
Via	Rydalmere Top Ryde City Gladesville Drummoyne Town Hall station Martin Place station
End	Circular Quay
Service
Level	Daily

M52 runs from Parramatta to Circular Quay via Victoria Road, Top Ryde City, Town Hall station and commenced on 8 August 2010. It replaced route L20 and is supplemented by the 520 route outside of M52 operating hours.

The M52 connects passengers to Sydney Trains stations at Parramatta, West Ryde, Town Hall, St James and Circular Quay. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Parramatta, Top Ryde, Queen Victoria Building and Circular Quay. The M52 originally proceeded down George Street. On 4 October 2015 it was diverted to operate via Park and Elizabeth Streets.

M54: Parramatta to Macquarie Park

M54
Overview
Operator	State Transit
Predecessors	Route 548
Night-time	Yes
Route
Start	Parramatta station
Via	Carlingford station Epping station Macquarie University station
End	Macquarie Park
Service
Level	Daily

M54 runs from Parramatta station to Macquarie Park via Carlingford and Epping, and commenced on 10 October 2010. It replaced route 548, which was formerly Harris Park Transport route 624.

The M54 connects with Sydney Trains stations at Parramatta, Carlingford, Epping, Macquarie University, and Macquarie Park. It also allows passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Parramatta, Epping, and Macquarie Centre. On 5 June 2016, route M54 was extended to operate extra half-hourly services nightly between 8:00pm and midnight. On 6 May 2018, the M54 was extended to operate overnight services at an hourly frequency seven nights a week, thus becoming a 24-hour service.

M60: Parramatta to Hornsby

M60
Overview
Operator	Hillsbus
Predecessors	Route 600
Route
Start	Parramatta station
Via	Baulkham Hills Castle Hill Cherrybrook Pennant Hills station Thornleigh Normanhurst
End	Hornsby
Service
Level	Daily

M60 runs from Parramatta station to Hornsby via Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Pennant Hills, Thornleigh and Normanhurst, and commenced on 7 March 2011. It connects with Parramatta, Pennant Hills and Hornsby Sydney Trains stations and other bus services at major interchanges Parramatta, Castle Hill and Hornsby. It replaced daytime 600 services between Parramatta and Castle Hill which operated early morning and late night and one in the afternoon on weekdays and some limited 600 services between Parramatta and Cherrybrook. Other remaining 600 services were replaced on 3 June 2018

M61: Castle Hill to Queen Victoria Building

M61
Overview
Operator	Hillsbus
Predecessors	Route 610 Route 610X
Route
Start	Castle Hill
Via	Baulkham Hills M2 Motorway
End	Queen Victoria Building
Service
Level	Daily with all nighter on Fridays and Saturdays

M61 runs from Castle Hill to the Queen Victoria Building via Baulkham Hills and the M2 Motorway and complements the existing 610X service. It commenced on 20 December 2010. The M61 allows passengers to connect with services to Kellyville, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Bella Vista and Stanhope Gardens at bus stops along the M2 Motorway, as well as the Castle Hill Interchange. The M61 originally continued south of the Queen Victoria Building to Railway Square via George Street until 4 October 2015 when it was curtailed.

M90: Burwood to Liverpool

M90
Overview
Operator	Transdev NSW
Predecessors	Route 900
Route
Start	Westfield Burwood
Via	Strathfield station Chullora Bankstown station Milperra Moorebank
End	Liverpool
Service
Level	Daily

M90 runs from Westfield Burwood to Liverpool station via Strathfield, Chullora, Greenacre, Bankstown, Milperra and Moorebank, and commenced on 6 December 2010. The M90 service replaced the 900 service and connects with Sydney Trains stations at Burwood, Strathfield, Bankstown, and Liverpool. It also allows passengers to transfer to other buses in Burwood, Strathfield, Bankstown and Liverpool. The M90 also connects with the M91 and M92 services at Bankstown and with the Liverpool-Parramatta T-way.

M91: Parramatta to Hurstville

M91
Overview
Operator	Transdev NSW
Predecessors	Route 910 Route 948
Route
Start	Parramatta station
Via	Granville station Chester Hill Yagoona Bankstown station Padstow station Peakhurst Penshurst
End	Hurstville
Service
Level	Daily

M91 runs from Parramatta to Hurstville via Granville, Chester Hill, Yagoona, Bankstown, Padstow, Peakhurst and Penshurst, and commenced on 7 February 2011. The M91 service replaced the 910 and 948 services and connects with Sydney Trains stations at Parramatta, Granville, Chester Hill, Yagoona, Bankstown, Padstow, and Hurstville. The M91 connects with the M52, M54, M60 and M92 services at Parramatta, the M90 and M92 services at Bankstown and the M41 at Hurstville as well as connecting with local bus services.

M92: Parramatta to Sutherland

M92
Overview
Operator	Transdev NSW
Route
Start	Parramatta station
Via	Rosehill station Lidcombe station Bankstown station Padstow
End	Sutherland station
Service
Level	Daily

M92 runs from Parramatta station to Sutherland via Lidcombe, Bankstown, Padstow and Menai and began 14 March 2011, it was the last Metrobus route launched. it connects with the Sydney Trains stations at Parramatta, Rosehill, Lidcombe, Bankstown, Padstow and Sutherland. The route largely duplicates route 962 between Bankstown and Sutherland, with the difference is that M92 bypasses Illawong and Menai Marketplace.

Fleet

When operations commenced, services were operated by dedicated fleets in a red livery. As new buses have been delivered these have been painted in Transport for NSW's white and blue livery.

External links

• Media related to Metrobus (Sydney) at Wikimedia Commons
• Transport Info Metrobus home page
• Transport for NSW Metrobus home page