Maroondah Journal: Bus cuts criticised

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 8th of January, 2008

Due to summer timetables which take effect on bus routes operated by the former National Bus Company (now Ventura), bus passengers and public transport users face severe restrictions in their mobility over the summer.

The Maroondah Journal has reported on the punitive summer timetable cuts and their effect on public transport users:

Cr Alex Makin said bus routes in Maroondah were “seriously reduced” over summer months because of Ventura National’s “unique” contract.

Summer timetables, which take effect on the former National bus routes, are in operation between the 24th of December and the 11th of January. This often results in a half hourly bus route being reduced to just an hourly service, severely crippling Maroondah’s mobility.

“We are talking about a 50 per cent reduction, across any Ventura bus route in Maroondah. This affects 75 per cent of the municipality. It certainly severely limits people’s mobility to get out and partake in Maroondah’s recreational activities”.

Due to contractual oddities with the former National Bus network, summer timetables only affect Maroondah and Manningham, which are predominantly serviced by National Bus routes. There is a need for uniform bus contracts which remove the potential of punitive summer timetables.

“There is a huge need for the State Government to implement a uniform contract for all bus operators.”

Uniform contracts would prevent seasonal variations and also stipulate uniform operating hours and frequencies.

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