ST Marys-Mt Druitt Star - Gasmata Tabled for Blacktown Council

Bus route change tabled for consideration

BY KYLIE STEVENS

13 Apr, 2010 09:34 AM

THE fate of a revised bus route to pick up Whalan commuters in Gasmata Crescent lies in the hands of Blacktown councillors.

They will vote on the proposed 674 route at tomorrow night's council meeting.

Westbus has proposed a revised route to include Gasmata Crescent whose residents have been stranded without a service since October.

If approved, the route will turn right into Gasmata Crescent from Luxford Road, before turning right into Moresby Crescent.

It will then turn right into Samarai Road, right into Luxford Road and continue to Mt Druitt.
If approved, the new route will start later this month on a six-month trial.

The Save Our Bus Services group met on Saturday to decide whether to support the proposal.
Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson attended as the group's view will decide how she votes.

Group spokeswoman Debbie Robertson said on Friday it was ``more than likely'' they would support the proposal but push for minor changes to the route.

Blacktown mayor Charlie Lowles will look at the proposal before making a decision.
``It's something I would consider if it has community support,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the NSW opposition has revealed more than 5200 train station lift breakdowns across the CityRail network in a two-year period.

St Marys was fifth worst station across the network for breakdowns with 188 incidents.
Mt Druitt railway station was ninth.

Passengers were trapped in the lift in 11 breakdown incidents at St Marys.

The Star reported in December that a faulty lift on the CBD side was out of action for a month, forcing the elderly and those with prams to use steep stairs to access the station.

``These breakdowns yet again highlight the state Labor government's failure to even get the basics right in public transport,'' opposition transport spokeswoman Gladys Berejiklian said.