Tourists who have stood in line waiting for a bus service from the centre of Katoomba out to the popular landmark Echo Point, will be pleased by the latest government announcement.
Member of the Legislative Council, Shayne Mallard, said from April 28 customers will benefit from an additional 16 services every Sunday, all year round, on route 686 services between Katoomba and Echo Point.
"Route 686 is an important local loop service that carries customers between Katoomba and Echo Point via Scenic World," Mr Mallard said.
"For a number of Sundays ... we've boosted the frequency to deliver a bus every 10 minutes to meet demand.
"These new services mean locals and visitors to the Mountains will benefit from a 686 bus every 10 minutes on every Sunday of the year. The NSW government is delivering public transport improvements when and where they are needed," added Mr Mallard.
But Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle said the Liberal government had not earned the right "to pat themselves on the back because they have consistently failed to deliver adequate public transport in the Mountains for locals and tourists alike".
"The government have got it all back to front with public transport and instead of fixing their own train network they're taking credit for the work of privately owned bus operators."
"We do need more buses from Katoomba village to Echo Point, but what about getting tourists here to the Mountains and home again in the first place?
"What about residents and commuters who suffer daily on our railway line? Our trains are regularly at capacity and overcrowded but this government refuses to adequately provision trains to support our burgeoning tourism industry," Ms Doyle said.
Customers can view the extra services online under Trip Planner at www.transportnsw.info.
The extra services for route 686 are being funding through the NSW government's Growth Services program. Since 2011, the government has delivered more than 130 extra weekly public transport services in the Mountains, including more than 80 extra bus services.
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