We, the bus community of Newcastle, feel that Keolis Downer is not meeting the needs of Newcastle's commuters. The bus network in Newcastle is vast and extensive, with some services reaching as far as Cessnock.

However, Newcastle has a high dependency on these services due to the lack of alternative cheap and reliable public transport. Ubers surge after midnight around Newcastle due to a lack of drivers, and the same issue exists for taxis. Additionally, there aren't train stations close to the western suburbs with a reliable train service that runs late into the evening.

What we are purposing is a complete overhaul to the current timetable including: 

• Extended Service Hours: Services should start earlier and finish later to help early risers get their day started and provide a late-night option for people who need a plan B to get home. Extending service hours will improve connections to the city, support a better night economy within the Newcastle CBD and surrounding precincts, and lower the risk of intoxicated drivers on our roads.
• Increased Service Frequency: We propose overhauling the frequency of services with the aim to move them to a half-hour frequency, with some routes potentially running on a 15-minute peak timetable.

We aim for this petition to be sent to Keolis Downer/Newcastle Transport to show them that the locals are tired of the lack of service frequency and the subpar bus network.

Newcastle deserves better.