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Slight confusion, not mayhem, for Sydney's morning peak in new bus regime Slight confusion, not mayhem, for peak hour in Sydney's new bus regime
(34 minutes later)
Slight confusion gripped Sydney’s CBD on Tuesday as the city’s overhauled public transport system underwent its first morning peak hour.Slight confusion gripped Sydney’s CBD on Tuesday as the city’s overhauled public transport system underwent its first morning peak hour.
More than 630,000 commuters flooded into newly created stops on the streets surrounding George Street, which has been closed to buses to allow construction to start on a $2.1bn light rail project connecting Circular Quay to Randwick and Kingsford.More than 630,000 commuters flooded into newly created stops on the streets surrounding George Street, which has been closed to buses to allow construction to start on a $2.1bn light rail project connecting Circular Quay to Randwick and Kingsford.
An army of attendants in hats reading “Ask me!” massed along Clarence, York and Park streets. Awash in their pink shirts, the city looked more like a nightmare of the Christian Democrat leader Fred Nile than that envisioned by the transport minister, Andrew Constance.An army of attendants in hats reading “Ask me!” massed along Clarence, York and Park streets. Awash in their pink shirts, the city looked more like a nightmare of the Christian Democrat leader Fred Nile than that envisioned by the transport minister, Andrew Constance.
Earlier they had huddled near Town Hall carrying stacks of pamphlets and bracing for the forecast chaos. Cara Delevingne snarled from a nearby bus stop advert. “Don’t crack under pressure,” it read.Earlier they had huddled near Town Hall carrying stacks of pamphlets and bracing for the forecast chaos. Cara Delevingne snarled from a nearby bus stop advert. “Don’t crack under pressure,” it read.
Crowds and temperatures swelled throughout the morning, but tempers remained steady, most commuters seemingly prepared for the changes, or only mildly inconvenienced.Crowds and temperatures swelled throughout the morning, but tempers remained steady, most commuters seemingly prepared for the changes, or only mildly inconvenienced.
A couple of older passengers on the 190 and L90 raised eyebrows at being dumped at Wynyard station, well short of Railway Square, but an attendant in an Akubra hat soon bundled them on to red buses and towards their destination.A couple of older passengers on the 190 and L90 raised eyebrows at being dumped at Wynyard station, well short of Railway Square, but an attendant in an Akubra hat soon bundled them on to red buses and towards their destination.
Even the unions, which had warned the city would be “a mess”, conceded things were going OK.Even the unions, which had warned the city would be “a mess”, conceded things were going OK.
“So far people seem to have altered their timetables to catch the buses. There is a lot more pedestrian traffic wandering down Park Street,” said David Woollams from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union. “How happy they are having to get off the bus and walk, well, that will come to a fore later this week.”“So far people seem to have altered their timetables to catch the buses. There is a lot more pedestrian traffic wandering down Park Street,” said David Woollams from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union. “How happy they are having to get off the bus and walk, well, that will come to a fore later this week.”
The predicted chaos may still eventuate, he said. “I think the PM peak will be the real tester. And we sincerely hope people will understand not to take it out on the drivers. They’re just doing their job.”The predicted chaos may still eventuate, he said. “I think the PM peak will be the real tester. And we sincerely hope people will understand not to take it out on the drivers. They’re just doing their job.”
George Street without buses was eerily quiet. “It feels like Christmas time with people on holidays,” Eddie, a Big Issue vendor, said.George Street without buses was eerily quiet. “It feels like Christmas time with people on holidays,” Eddie, a Big Issue vendor, said.
“Normally I can’t hear the transistor,” he said, fumbling with headphones. He put them in. “No noise,” he smiled.“Normally I can’t hear the transistor,” he said, fumbling with headphones. He put them in. “No noise,” he smiled.
As peak hour receded, only the saintly, harried attendants appeared to be feeling the heat. Akubra hat, still gesticulating to commuters, was sweating through his shirt.As peak hour receded, only the saintly, harried attendants appeared to be feeling the heat. Akubra hat, still gesticulating to commuters, was sweating through his shirt.
“It’s going well,” he said, leaning in to whisper. “But people should learn to read signs above their eyeline.“It’s going well,” he said, leaning in to whisper. “But people should learn to read signs above their eyeline.
“They ask what stand this is,” he said, motioning upward to a plastic notice reading “Stand C”.“They ask what stand this is,” he said, motioning upward to a plastic notice reading “Stand C”.
“They tell me they want the 293,” he said. A schedule beside him showed it had moved eight minutes away to Wynyard Station.“They tell me they want the 293,” he said. A schedule beside him showed it had moved eight minutes away to Wynyard Station.
He shrugged. “Signs.”He shrugged. “Signs.”