A new bus service has been introduced to help Upper Mountains residents connect with the 9.14am city-bound train from Katoomba.
The change follows extensive lobbying from commuters in Mt Victoria, Blackheath and Medlow Bath after the 9am service was axed in the new October 2013 timetable, leaving those villages with no trains between 8 and 10am on a weekday morning.
The Blue Mountains Bus Company has responded to the calls, altering its own timetable so from Monday its old 9am service now leaves Mt York Road at Mt Victoria at 8.26am, arriving in Katoomba at 9.02, well in time for the morning train.
Blue Mountains MP Roza Sage said she had been contacted by a number of residents concerned that the bus arrived too late to make the train.
“I have strongly put these views to the Minister for Transport and I’m very pleased to announce the Government agreed to move the bus service forward by about half an hour to meet the 9.14am train to Central. This is a win for the community.”
Karim Hussain, director of the bus company, said he was pleased to make the change.
“Access and connections to the Blue Mountains rail line are of paramount importance to the communities of Blackheath and Mt Victoria. We would like to thank Mrs Sage for her prompt representations and we now look forward to growing patronage on this essential service.”
The bus will stop at Wombat Street and at the New Ivanhoe Hotel in Blackheath as well as on the highway at Medlow Bath before pulling up opposite the Carrington at Katoomba.
