NSW: Optus bus charter not hurting commuters, STA says

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2007
NSW: Optus bus charter not hurting commuters, STA says

SYDNEY, Aug 16 AAP - Bus commuters are not disadvantaged by a private charter with
telecommunication giant Optus, the State Transit Authority (STA) says.

The state government earns extra revenue renting its buses for more than 200 daily
services to Optus' headquarters in the northern Sydney suburb of North Ryde.

News Ltd says 40 services a day in the surrounding area are cancelled because of this
contract, but the STA says private chartering does not affect bus timetables or services.

"To the best of our knowledge, no scheduled services have been cancelled in preference
of the Optus Charter," an STA spokeswoman said.

"Staff and bus levels at the depots have been adjusted to take account of the charter," she said.

"Inspectors at the depots are all advised that any service cancellations must be shared
across the network."

Cancellation of bus services was only due to unforeseen circumstances like sickness
or technical difficulties.

The STA sub-contracted the Optus charter and "private buses do most of the work", the
spokeswoman said.

"No charter arrangements take preference over scheduled and timetabled services."

AAP ig/wjf/jt

KEYWORD: BUS

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