Ongoing public transport dilemmas 10-00 4th March 2008

With an increase of 200,000 commuters on trains per week, over the last year, public transport in Sydney has become more and more crowded. 

“We are seeing that in peak periods that our transport system is straining to function effectively,” says Patricia Forsythe, executive director of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce. “The increase in patronage demonstrates that Sydneysiders are prepared to give public transport a go, but the government needs to deliver a reliable and customer focused service if we are to lighten the load on our crowded road network.”

With a belief that co-ordinated transport will solve congestion problems, the state opposition’s proposal for an overseeing public transport authority is gaining popularity.

But the current system will also need further support, says Forsythe. “The strain on our 300 bus routes and tangled rail network can only be relieved by introducing new large capacity modes such as metro rail,” she explains. “The challenge for the Iemma Government today is to implement a strategy that holds on to these new commuters while the problems in the system are resolved.”