State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on Keolis Downer to listen to current and past passengers for the solution to get more people back on their buses.
Opal data released recently showed patronage continuing to fall, with figures down 4% in September and down 7% for seniors and pensioners.
Ms Hornery has written to Keolis Downer and the Transport Minster, Andrew Constance, about changes that commuters want that would see people utilise public transport more frequently.
Ms Hornery is calling on Keolis Downer and the Minister to go back and look at the feedback provided and make the necessary changes to the network that people are crying out for.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“Keolis Downer has claimed all along that they are listening to what people want, but the figures don’t lie.”
“Figures are down, school kids are no longer taking the bus because they can’t get to school on time, seniors and pensioners are no longer taking the bus because they can’t walk the extra distance required after the local route was removed, or they can’t navigate the system with multiple bus changes.”
“Every day people contact my office to offer up suggestions on improving the transport system that would see them use buses to get to work or social gatherings. I have written to Keolis Downer and the Minster on hundreds of occasions and in each reply they state they are committed to delivering the best possible service for customers and have taken the feedback on board.”
“Despite the hundreds and hundreds of letters, not a single change has been made to the network in the Wallsend electorate.”
“People have abandoned public transport in droves. Parents are driving children to school and their elderly parents to appointments. People are driving to work from the western suburbs in record numbers. Our roads have never been more congested, simply because catching the bus is no longer an option.”
“Keolis Downer and the Minster should go back through the hundreds of letters and surveys that I have provided them and actually look at what people want. They should listen to what people are telling them.”