Transport for NSW and U-Go Mobility have ended the bus driver shortage in Region 10, thanks to dedicated bus driver recruitment campaigns and a focused driver training program.
The boost is in part due to U-Go Mobility’s flagship Women Behind the Wheel recruitment campaign, encouraging women to explore a career as a bus driver.
Through this campaign, U-Go – the area’s operator – has doubled the number of women drivers serving the communities of Sydney’s south and south-west. The program invests in women’s licensing and training to remove barriers and support access to the traditionally male-dominated industry.
These initiatives, along with the measures the NSW Government has put in place across the industry including slashing the cost to get a Bus Driver Authority, launching a bus driver recruitment campaign, and initiating the roll out of free opal cards to drivers, have helped half the amount of driver vacancies across the state since May 2023.
Bus passengers in Sydney’s south and south-west are now experiencing a full timetable after U-Go reinstated suspended services in February.
All trips that were suspended as part of the July 2023 timetable changes were added back into the timetable on 26 February.
This means bus passengers in the area now have 160 more bus trips to get them to where they need to go.
The 960 and 920 services will continue to operate in place of the previous M92.
Transport for NSW continues to work with U-Go Mobility and other bus operators to deliver a reliable and frequent bus service for passengers.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:
“It is great to see such success in getting more drivers back into buses in Sydney’s south and south-west.
“I know how important an integrated and reliable bus network is for these communities, and I want to thank locals for their patience as Transport worked with the operator to stabilise operations.
“It’s exciting to see the number of female drivers double over the past six months. A career in the bus industry has endless opportunities and we want to see more women getting involved.”
Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said:
“Our community really bore the brunt of the bus driver shortage, but we’ve also been able to see first-hand how solutions to the bus driver shortage can be implemented and how they’re starting to pay off.
“It will take a while to encourage passengers back onto our buses, but now that we are seeing a more reliable and regular service, we’ll be able to rebuild trust and see more people tap back on.”
TfNSW Coordinator General Howard Collins said:
“The more we share stories about women within the bus industry, the more we will be able to boost our numbers.
“Inclusion of women on the frontline brings greater diversity of skills and experiences to the bus industry.
“It is great to see more female drivers have helped boost U-Go Mobility’s driver numbers and get them back to a full timetable, to deliver a better service for passengers.”