Owner Transport for NSW Transit type Bus Number of stations 120 | Locale Sydney, Australia Number of lines 13 | |
Began operation 18 June 1989 (1989-06-18) | ||
NightRide is a network of bus routes in operation between midnight and 4.30am in Sydney, Australia. The thirteen routes are run by private bus operators and allow for a nightly shutdown of the Sydney Trains commuter rail network. The NightRide network was established in mid-1989 as low-patronage late-night train services were progressively withdrawn. Services follow major roads, and some stops are some distance from the railway stations they replace. In addition, some routes serve stations on multiple train lines. In the City, most services depart from George Street, above Town Hall station.
Currently, normal bus fares apply to NightRide journeys.
The suspension of train services overnight allows for maintenance to occur on tracks. Passengers reportedly feel safer on buses than mostly-empty trains late at night. However, in 2014, it was reported that patronage on most NightRide routes was falling. The Tourism and Transport Forum has called for 24-hour train operations to resume.
History
The first NightRide routes, to Riverwood, Campbelltown and Sutherland, commenced in June 1989. Services to Penrith, Hornsby and Cronulla began two months later. New services were introduced to Bondi Junction in 2009; and Carlingford and Richmond in 2011.
A city loop route, called N1, was established in 2000 and cancelled two years later.