So if you time it right you could take the first Metro from Chatswood and the last StationLink from Epping.

I've noticed the pink wrap has come off several StationLink buses now - they now significantly blend in with everyday buses around Macquarie Centre

grimlock81 wrote:So if you time it right you could take the first Metro from Chatswood and the last StationLink from Epping.

You could also take the first metro from Tallawong to Chatswood and last StationLink from Chatswood.
I've updated Tripview timetable and StaionLink buses now operate until 2pm on Sunday (about 3 hours overlap with metro).

stupid_girl wrote:

grimlock81 wrote:So if you time it right you could take the first Metro from Chatswood and the last StationLink from Epping.

You could also take the first metro from Tallawong to Chatswood and last StationLink from Chatswood.
I've updated Tripview timetable and StaionLink buses now operate until 2pm on Sunday (about 3 hours overlap with metro).

With the crowds expected to turn up, I think they would be restricting access to the platforms to prevent overcrowding. It might be problematic to expect to get a space on either "first metro"?

Around 40 StationLink buses left the fleet as of yesterday and have returned to CDC and Transdev.

Which CDC depot/s are their portion of Station Link buses now based at?
Will their be any fleet refresh as result of these near new buses amongst the local Hillsbus depots, or will they all go to regional NSW?

Track it on http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/comm ... eratorreq= The fleet list will be updated as soon as the information is known. Same as has already been done for Transdev.

Around 12:30pm today I caught my last Station Link bus. It was pretty packed and they were still running them to the normal frequency. Just a short trip between Chatswood and North Ryde to avoid lining up at Chatswood, but certainly made the overall trip much faster. I also noticed a number of Station Link buses along the new line today. Backup?

StationLink SL1 were running as at 5:30pm today.
I am concerned as tomorrow we don't have StationLink and if metro is delayed there will be chaos at Macquarie University with students missing classes and exams.

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CityRail wrote:I am concerned as tomorrow we don't have StationLink and if metro is delayed there will be chaos at Macquarie University with students missing classes and exams.

Boohoo. When the trains are disrupted everywhere else, people are late for work and miss shifts because of it

BroadGauge wrote:

CityRail wrote:I am concerned as tomorrow we don't have StationLink and if metro is delayed there will be chaos at Macquarie University with students missing classes and exams.

Boohoo. When the trains are disrupted everywhere else, people are late for work and miss shifts because of it

Who said StationLink wasn't there today? There were two parked on Beecroft Road

So do the Stationlink drivers get paid to sit around and do nothing all day now since the metro is open? It's kind of a waste of money.

There would only be a small percentage of them retained for this purpose and also remember they are operating routes NW1 and NW2.

idontknow556 wrote:So do the Stationlink drivers get paid to sit around and do nothing all day now since the metro is open? It's kind of a waste of money.

Sounds like a juicy bludge.

The concept is the same as Standby buses on rail replacement.If they are required they get used. The operator(S) gets paids the standby rate and the drivers get their normal hourly award wage WHETHER THEY MOVE OR NOT.
This standby buses are probably in use for a relatively short period in case there are teething issues with the metro.
Will be interesting to see which operator(s)get the Carlingford line replacement job.I would imagine only about a dozen buses would be required there.

Fleet Lists wrote:There would only be a small percentage of them retained for this purpose and also remember they are operating routes NW1 and NW2.

Transdev’s NW1 and NW2 are operated from South Granville primarily using the ex Station Link fleet.

This raises all sorts of other possibilities - if these standby buses are from Transdev they could also be from South Granville now being a mix with NW routes as well as other routes as far as drivers are concerned.

Is Hillsbus still using Camellia or are they also operating the NW routes now from one of their own depots possibly with similar mixes of operations as far as drivers are concerned?

Very much so Lourie.We need some eagle eyes or some well connected enthusiasts to sus this out.

Fleet Lists wrote: Is Hillsbus still using Camellia or are they also operating the NW routes now from one of their own depots possibly with similar mixes of operations as far as drivers are concerned?

I saw last week there were some of the older B7RLE Volgren Optimus (identified with the non-glazed windows and Denso aircon unit) not from Camellia doing some NW Night services.. in tandem with the newer, ex Station Link Volgrens

Essentially anything pink is still Camellia, however buses are being unwrapped (and used in service/standby) just before leaving Camellia for other depots. I believe the NW1 and NW2 services are also being run from Hillsbus Foundry Rd depot, again primarily using the ex Stationlink fleet as they are fitted with programmed internal next stop screens.

This arrangement for both operators has essentially allowed them to shed some initial temporary drivers from Camellia. The buses can be used on other shifts during the day and allows for overtime and casual work to run the NWs.

Several SL buses parked at Homebush about 7.45 AM Friday morning.

There's was also one parked at Strathfield station set down stands on Friday morning.

What were they doing at Homebush and Strathfield? The metro does not run to these stations.

Probably on standby for some "operational requirement" in the area.

They are not exclusive to metro, at least not anymore.

They can take the pink off now. One appeared on a recent dash cam compilation bypassing traffic over double centre lines.

There are still 3-4 Station Link buses (some still in pink and some not) all day on weekdays at Chatswood.