B-Line (Sydney)

Last updated

B1
Sydney B-Line.svg
Keolis MAN A95 @ B1, Clarence Street (20231006a) (cropped).jpg
Overview
Operator Keolis Downer Northern Beaches
Garage Mona Vale
Vehicle Gemilang Coachworks bodied MAN A95s
Began service26 November 2017
Predecessors 190
Former operator(s) State Transit
Night-timeBN1
Route
Locale Sydney, Australia
Start Mona Vale
Via Warriewood
Narrabeen
Collaroy
Dee Why
Brookvale
Manly Vale
Spit Junction
Neutral Bay
End Wynyard Park
Length31 kilometres
Stops10
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency3-4 minutes (peak)
7-10 minutes (off-peak)
30 minutes (night)
Journey time65 minutes
Annual patronage5.9 million (2018)
Timetable Transport for NSW
B-Line B1 bus route
BSicon KINTa.svg
Wynyard Station
Aiga railtransportation 25.svg BSicon TRAM.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
Sydney Harbour Bridge
BSicon BHF.svg
Neutral Bay Junction
BSicon BHF.svg
Spit Junction
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
Spit Bridge
BSicon BHF.svg
Manly Vale
BSicon BHF.svg
Warringah Mall
BSicon BHF.svg
Dee Why
BSicon BHF.svg
Collaroy
BSicon BHF.svg
Narrabeen
BSicon WBRUCKE1.svg
South Creek
BSicon BHF.svg
Warriewood
BSicon KBHFe.svg
Mona Vale

The B-Line is a high-frequency bus route operated by Keolis Downer Northern Beaches between Wynyard Station in Sydney's central business district and the Northern Beaches region. It is a part of the Sydney suburban bus network.

Contents

History

In November 2015, Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) announced the construction of a 27 kilometre bus rapid transit network between Newport on the Northern Beaches and the Sydney central business district. It began operating on 26 November 2017 as route B1 between Mona Vale and Wynyard Park. A planned extension to Newport was later cancelled following opposition from local residents with concerns that improved public transport infrastructure would be used to justify new high density housing developments. [1] [2] [3] The route is operated by double deck buses. [4] [5] [6]

Route B1 services stop at nine B-Line stops at Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why, Brookvale, Manly Vale, Spit Junction and Neutral Bay. Commuter car parks have been built at Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Dee Why, Brookvale and Manly Vale. [4] [5] [7]

The B-Line is operated by Keolis Downer Northern Beaches's Mona Vale depot as part of Region 8. [8]

Buses on the B-Line trial Mobileye, a new forward-facing collision avoidance technology system which has been developed by Intel. [9]

In the first year of operation to November 2018, 5.9 million passengers were carried. [10]

On 20 December 2020, the B-Line commenced operating 24-hours a day, extended between midnight and 5am to the Queen Victoria Building as route BN1. [11] [12] In October 2021 it was included in the takeover of region 8 by Keolis Downer Northern Beaches. [13]

Due to a large number of bus drivers leaving, severe cancellations and wait times are commonplace on the route. [14]

Changes to Northern Beaches bus network

When the B-line opened, there were various changes to the bus network on the Northern Beaches. [15] [16] The more significant changes were:

Vehicles

To operate the B-Line, 38 Gemilang Coachworks bodied MAN A95s were purchased. [17] [18] 3 additional vehicles have since been added to the fleet, making up a total of 41 double decker vehicles utilised for the service. They have audio/video systems on board that announce the next stops, along with connections and places of interest at the stop. The buses have free double USB charging points per pair of seats. Painted in a dedicated yellow and blue livery, these are the first double deck buses to be operated by a NSW government operator since the Urban Transit Authority withdrew its last Leyland Atlanteans in 1986. [19]

Stops

All B-Line bus stops incorporate a real-time passenger information display that displays the departure time, destination, route number and number of passengers on board the next few buses to arrive at the stop (including non B-Line services). [20]

Wynyard

Wynyard Park is the southern terminus of the line. The B-Line drops off passengers on York Street and picks up passengers from Stand B on Carrington Street. This stop connects the B-Line to train services at Wynyard railway station. [21]

Neutral Bay

The Neutral Bay citybound bus stop is located on Military Road between Rangers Road and Wycombe Road. Citybound B-Line buses depart from Stand A, along with all other citybound buses. Commuters can change here for bus services towards Chatswood, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydenham, North Sydney and Milsons Point The northbound bus stop is located between Young Street and Waters Road. Northbound B-Line buses depart from Stand E, along with all other Northern Beaches buses. Commuters can change here for buses towards Balmoral Beach, Taronga Zoo and Mosman Junction. [22]

Spit Junction (Mosman)

The Spit Junction citybound bus stop is located on a newly built pedestrian plaza on Clifford Street. This bus stop started operating concurrently with the B-Line, with the older bus stop located closer to the junction of Military Road and Spit Road being closed. To facilitate its construction, a disused Greater Union cinema was purchased and demolished. [23] [24] [25] The northbound bus stop remains in the same location on Spit Road although, like all other stops, fitted with new seating and real-time passenger information displays.

Manly Vale

The Manly Vale bus stop is located on Condamine Street north of Kenneth Road. [26] The bus stops at Manly Vale feature weather protection. The bus stop also features one of the six new commuter car parks which have been planned for B-Line bus stops. The Manly Vale B-Line commuter car park consists of a three-stories structure which has 150 spaces and incorporates around 9000 plants in a breathing green wall, helping to reduce air pollutants for nearby residents. [27]

Warringah Mall (Brookvale)

The Warringah Mall citybound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road, north of William Street. The northbound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road, adjacent to Westfield Warringah Mall shopping centre. Commuters can change here for bus services towards Chatswood, Frenchs Forest, Manly as Northern Beaches surrounds. A commuter car park is available at this stop. [28]

Dee Why

The Dee Why citybound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road, between Howard Avenue and Oaks Avenue. The northbound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road, south of St David Avenue. Commuters can change here for bus services to Chatswood, Frenchs Forest, Cromer, Narraweena, Collaroy Plateau and Wheeler Heights. A commuter car park is available at this stop. [29]

Collaroy

The Collaroy citybound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road, alongside the historic Arlington Amusement Hall. The northbound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road, between Fielding Avenue and Collaroy Street. [30]

Narrabeen

The Narrabeen citybound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road, between Waterloo Street and Albert Street. The northbound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road with access to Berry Reserve. A commuter car park is available at this stop. [31]

Warriewood

The Warriewood citybound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road, adjacent to North Narrabeen Reserve. The northbound bus stop is located on Pittwater Road, north of Jacksons Road, with access to Boondah Reserve. A commuter car park is available at this stop. [32]

Mona Vale

Mona Vale is the northern terminus of the line. The B-Line drops passengers off on Barranjoey Road, between Pittwater Road and Park Street and picks up passengers on Barranjoey Road, near Kitchener Park. Commuters can change here for bus services towards Macquarie Centre, Gordon, Terrey Hills, McCarrs Creek & Palm Beach. A commuter car park is available at this stop. [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Beaches</span> Region in New South Wales, Australia

The Northern Beaches is a region within Northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, near the Pacific coast. This area extends south to the entrance of Port Jackson, west to Middle Harbour and north to the entrance of Broken Bay. The area was formerly inhabited by the Garigal or Caregal people in a region known as Guringai country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittwater Council</span> Former local government area in New South Wales, Australia

Pittwater Council was a local government area on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It covered a region adjacent to the Tasman Sea about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of the Sydney central business district. The area is named after Pittwater, the body of water adjacent to much of the area governed. First proclaimed in 1906 as the A Riding of Warringah Shire, the area was proclaimed as the Municipality of Pittwater on 1 May 1992. On 12 May 2016, the Minister for Local Government announced that Pittwater Council would be subsumed into the newly formed Northern Beaches Council. The last mayor of Pittwater Council was Councillor Jacqui Townsend, an independent politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warringah Council</span> Former local government area in New South Wales, Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mona Vale, New South Wales</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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References

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  2. Newport Archived 25 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine B-Line
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  5. 1 2 Mike Baird's B-Line rapid bus routes for northern beaches Archived 11 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 9 November 2015
  6. Thousands of new transport services starting at a stop, wharf and station near you Archived 16 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 15 October 2017
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  8. Sydney Metro MAN A95 buses delivered Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine Australasian Bus & Coach 30 November 2017
  9. Making a B-Line for safety Archived 14 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 13 September 2018
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  11. Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore bus service improvements Transport for NSW 9 October 2020
  12. "State Transit route BN1". Transport for NSW.
  13. New Bus Operator to Electrify Fleet Transport for NSW 28 May 2021
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