Some Hobart bus services will be ‘temporarily suspended’ from next week as Metro continues to grapple with a growing driver shortage.
The city has seen thousands of bus cancellations in recent months, with Metro hoping the removal of some services will “improve certainty and reliability” across the network.
Metro CEO Katie Cooper said the adjustments to “less frequented services” will start from Monday 28 August.
“Metro has and continues to take steps to address the shortage by actively recruiting and training bus operators,” she said.
“This is another tool in our toolbox as we continue to implement longer-term measures to recruit and retain bus operators as we work to progressively restore services.”
“It was a decision not taken lightly, but is necessary in order to provide greater certainty and reliability for our customers.”
Cooper said the suspended services will be spread across the city to lessen the impact on specific areas, while dedicated school buses will remain unaffected.
Speaking to media about the plan yesterday, Labor’s Josh Willie said the state government ‘need to do more to address pay and conditions’ to help retain drivers.
“This plan does nothing for the countless Tasmanians who rely on public transport – many of whom have no other mode of transport available to them,” Willie said.
“Will the remaining services become overcrowded in peak hour, leaving Tasmanians on the curb or standing in the aisle?”
The Greens said the decision “should be reversed” and are pushing for public transport to be made free.
“We need to be doing all we can to be making public transport accessible, safe, efficient and reliable and cutting services goes nowhere near that,” Greens MP Vica Bayley said on Wednesday.
“This is unacceptable for drivers and a terrible outcome for the community.”
“Making bus services free would not only deliver a great benefit to the community, it would also help drivers by reducing the anti-social behaviour associated with fares.”
Updated timetables will be made available from Monday.
