Zoe Moffatt
Bus pain in Hume is continuing to sting with residents voicing their frustration over a lack of communication for the holiday timetable changes.
Sunbury resident Matthew McKay started a petition for a better bus service in Sunbury last year, which has more than 400 signatures.
For Mr McKay, the frustration at the inaccessibility of the service has only continued to grow, with the latest timetable failing to notify users of change to service during the school holidays.
“The sign posted timetables at the train station and online… hasn’t changed,” he said. “I have to sit there idling waiting for a change that wasn’t advertised.
“The bus runs normally at 7.27am and there is a footnote on the timetable online, which says it will operate via Lowther Hall Grammar School, St Columba’s Catholic College and Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School on school days only.
To account for this shorter route during holidays, it is understood the 7.27am service departs Sunbury at the later time of 7.50am in order to complete its journey at the normal time for people travelling to Moonee Ponds so they can make their normal connections.
“The impact that has for me is that I have to wait an extra 30 minutes for the bus because I have to catch an earlier one [to make it to work on time],” Mr McKay said.
With the recent downpouring of rain throughout the state, particularly in the north-west, he said this has added to the frustrating circumstances.
Mr McKay said these are the struggles that those who rely on public transport have, and also highlights the need for conversation to be given to these users.
“The decision makers all have cars or drivers, there’s no politician catching a bus to Sunbury station,” he said.
“They don’t operate like that so they have no understanding what it is to live like that.”
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson has apologised for the disruption and how it was communicated.
“Route 483 Sunbury to Moonee Ponds has temporarily adjusted its timetable during the school holidays to account for a shortened route on two school-time services,” the spokesperson said.
“The adjusted timetable will be communicated more clearly in the future and we sincerely apologise to passengers for any inconvenience caused.”
