B-Line (Sydney)

B-Line is an Australian bus route on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

B1
Gemilang Coachworks bodied MAN A95 at Mona Vale in November 2017
Overview
OperatorState Transit
GarageMona Vale
VehicleGemilang Coachworks bodied MAN A95s
Began service26 November 2017
Predecessors190
Night-timeBN1
Route
Route typeBus
LocaleSydney, Australia
StartMona Vale
ViaWarriewood
Narrabeen
Collaroy
Dee Why
Brookvale
Manly Vale
Spit Junction
Neutral Bay
EndWynyard Park
Length31 kilometres
Stops10
Service
LevelDaily
Frequency3-4 minutes (peak)
up to 10 minutes (off-peak)
Journey time65 minutes
TimetableTransport for NSW
B-line B1 Route
 Wynyard Station
Sydney Harbour Bridge
 Neutral Bay Junction
 Spit Junction
 Spit Bridge
 Manly Vale
 Warringah Mall
 Dee Why
 Collaroy
 Narrabeen
 South Creek
 Warriewood
 Mona Vale

History

In November 2015, Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) announced the construction of a 27 kilometre bus rapid transit network between Newport on the Northern Beaches and the Sydney central business district. It began operating on 26 November 2017 as route B1 between Mona Vale and Wynyard Park. A planned extension to Newport was later cancelled.[1][2] The route is operated by double deck buses.[3][4][5]

Route B1 services stop at nine B-Line stops at Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why, Brookvale, Manly Vale, Spit Junction and Neutral Bay. Commuter car parks are being built at Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Dee Why, Brookvale and Manly Vale.[3][4][6]

The B-Line is operated by State Transit's Mona Vale depot as part of Region 8. Improvements to tidal flows in 2018 on Spit and Military Roads are expected to improve reliability.[7]

Buses on the B-Line will trial Mobileye, a new forward-facing collision avoidance technology system which has been developed by Intel.[8]

In the first year of operation to November 2018, 5.9 million passengers were carried.[9]

On 20 December 2020, the B-Line commenced operating 24-hours a day, extended between midnight and 5am to the Queen Victoria Building as route BN1.[10][11]

Changes to Northern Beaches bus network

When the B-line opened, there were various changes to the bus network on the Northern Beaches.[12][13] The more significant changes were:

  • Discontinuation of 23 routes such as E84, E86, E87, L84, L85, L87, L88, 130, 140, 153, 179, 187 and 190
  • Introduction of 4 new routes in addition to route B1
  • Reduction of service times and frequency to L90
  • Extension of M30 from Spit Junction to Taronga Zoo, replacing daytime route 247 services
  • Renumbering non-discontinued L routes to E routes

Vehicles

To operate the B-Line, 38 Gemilang Coachworks bodied MAN A95s were purchased.[14][15] They have audio/video systems on board that announce the next stops, along with connections and places of interest at the stop. Painted in a dedicated yellow and blue livery, these are the first double deck buses to be operated by a NSW government operator since the Urban Transit Authority withdrew its last Leyland Atlanteans in 1986.[16]

Stops

All B-Line bus stops incorporate a real-time passenger information display that displays the departure time, destination, route number and number of passengers on board the next few buses to arrive at the stop (including non B-Line services).

Wynyard

Wynyard Park is the southern terminus of the line. The B-Line drops off passengers on York Street and picks up passengers from Stand B on Carrington Street. This stop connects the B-Line to train services at Wynyard railway station.[17]

Neutral Bay

The Neutral Bay citybound bus stop is located on Military Road between Rangers Road and Wycombe Road. Citybound B-Line buses depart from Stand A, along with all other citybound buses. Commuters can change here for bus services towards Chatswood, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydenham, North Sydney and Milsons Point The northbound bus stop is located between Young Street and Waters Road. Northbound B-Line buses depart from Stand E, along with all other Northern Beaches buses. Commuters can change here for buses towards Balmoral Beach, Taronga Zoo and Mosman Junction.[18]

Spit Junction (Mosman)

The Spit Junction citybound bus stop is located on a newly built pedestrian plaza on Clifford Street. This bus stop started operating concurrently with the B-Line, with the older bus stop located closer to the junction of Military Road and Spit Road being closed. To facilitate its construction, a disused Greater Union cinema was purchased and demolished.[19][20][21] The northbound bus stop remains in the same location on Spit Road although, like all other stops, fitted with new seating and real-time passenger information displays.

Manly Vale

The Manly Vale bus stop is located on Condamine Street north of Kenneth Road.[22] The bus stops at Manly Vale feature weather protection. The bus stop also features one of the six new commuter car parks which have been planned for B-Line bus stops. The Manly Vale B-Line commuter car park consists of a three-stories structure which has 150 spaces and incorporates around 9000 plants in a breathing green wall, helping to reduce air pollutants for nearby residents.[23]

Brookvale (Warringah Mall)

Serves the nearby Westfield Warringah Mall shopping centre. Commuters can change here for bus services towards Chatswood, Frenchs Forest, Manly as Northern Beaches surrounds. A commuter car park is available at this stop.[24]

Dee Why

Commuters can change here for peak hour services to Chatswood. A commuter car park is available at this stop.[25]

Collaroy

[26]

Narrabeen

A commuter car park is available at this stop.[27]

Warriewood

A commuter car park is available at this stop.[28]

Mona Vale

Commuters can change here for bus services towards Macquarie Centre, Gordon, Terrey Hills, McCarrs Creek & Palm Beach. A commuter car park is available at this stop.[29]

References
  1. Newport B-Line
  2. No B-Line extension to Newport Australian Bus issue 89 September 2018 page 9
  3. New B-Line to transform Northern Beaches Bus travel Transport for NSW 9 November 2015
  4. Mike Baird's B-Line rapid bus routes for northern beaches Sydney Morning Herald 9 November 2015
  5. Thousands of new transport services starting at a stop, wharf and station near you Transport for NSW 15 October 2017
  6. "State Transit route B1". Transport for NSW.
  7. Sydney Metro MAN A95 buses delivered Australasian Bus & Coach 30 November 2017
  8. Making a B-Line for safety Transport for NSW 13 September 2018
  9. B-Line success - $5.9 million passenger trips in first year Transport for NSW 6 December 2018
  10. Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore bus service improvements Transport for NSW 9 October 2020
  11. "State Transit route BN1". Transport for NSW.
  12. Northern Beaches bus service plan Transport New South Wales
  13. Bus Changes November 2017 Archived 2017-10-29 at the Wayback Machine, Transport NSW Info
  14. MAN double-deckers for Sydney Northern Beaches Australasian Bus & Coach 15 September 2016
  15. B-Line Australian Bus Panorama issue 32/4 January 2017 page 27
  16. Room at the top: double deckers return to Sydney Sydney Morning Herald 24 August 2012
  17. "Wynyard - CBD". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  18. "Neutral Bay". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  19. "Mosman and Spit Junction". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  20. Spit Junction cinema to be demolished to make way for B-Line rapid transit bus service North Shore Times 27 January 2016
  21. Work begins to clear old cinema building at Spit Junction Transport for NSW 27 February 2017
  22. "Manly Vale". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  23. Manly Vale Car Park Junglefly
  24. "Brookvale". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  25. "Dee Why". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  26. "Collaroy". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  27. "Narrabeen". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  28. "Warriewood". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  29. "Mona Vale". Your Say B-Line Northern Beaches. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
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