The first of 50 new higher-capacity articulated buses – commonly known as bendy buses – are joining the Sydney transport network.
The new $56 million bus fleet will be deployed to some of the city’s busiest bus routes, where they will join 83 bendy buses which are being returned to service after they were withdrawn in late 2024 to undergo complex structural repairs to their chassis.
Articulated buses carry around 50% more passengers than a standard bus. The first new Scania-Volgren bendy bus is operating in Sydney’s northwest before joining an expanded 500X service linking the Parramatta CBD and Ryde.
“Longer buses mean shorter queues, it’s as simple as that,” said Minister for Transport, John Graham.
“The Minns Labor Government is investing in new bendy buses because they carry 50% more passengers and their single-deck, multiple-door design makes them effective on the busiest routes in peak hour where stops are frequent.
“The former Liberal-National government did not buy a single bendy bus during their 12 years in office which has made fleet management and renewal a more complicated task.
“Getting the repaired bendy buses back on the road is another important step in increasing capacity and shortening the wait times at bus stops in the peaks.”
Another 12 bendy buses will arrive in coming months to join the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week 500X when the expanded service begins.
The new buses will also be deployed to the Eastern Suburbs from later this year to add much-needed capacity to Australia’s most patronised bus route, the 333 route between the city and Bondi Beach.
With 81 of the 83 repaired bendies available for service, communities across the Northern Beaches, the Eastern Suburbs, the Victoria Road corridor, Lower North Shore, Lane Cove and Parramatta will see improvements in capacity, wait times, and service reliability.
The Government has purchased another 10 double double-decker Volvo buses which are expected to be delivered by mid-2026 to enter service on the busy B Line route on the Northern Beaches.
More of the existing bendy bus fleet will also be allocated to Northern Beaches routes, the Minister confirmed.
