The NSW government has refuted claims the Gong Shuttle timetable was forcing drivers to drive unsafely.
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Transport Workers Union (TWU) Wollongong Secretary Nick McIntosh had raised concerns about Gong Shuttle bus drivers having to drive at unsafe speeds or skip bus stops.
This was all in order to fulfil what he classed as ‘‘impossible’’ timetable expectations, where buses had to be on schedule 95 per cent of the time or Gong Shuttle company Premier Illawarra could be hit with fines.
A spokeswoman for Transport for NSW said the union’s claims were ‘‘incorrect’’.
‘‘The operator of the Gong Shuttle, Premier Motor Service Pty Ltd has confirmed to Transport for NSW that its drivers are not being asked to undertake any actions what would put the safety of customers or the general public at risk,’’ the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman also said there was no formal timetable drivers are asked to follow.
‘‘The current contract with Transport for NSW does not include a 95 per cent On Time Running KPI and claims that this target is resulting in stops being missed are wrong.’’
Most of the Gong Shuttle route falls within Noreen Hay’s Wollongong electorate and she said she would be seeking discussions on the issue with the TWU, Gong Shuttle provider Premier Illawarra and Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian.
She said the government had to review the timetable demands.
‘‘You cannot have a situation where a service is provided that sees bus drivers forced to skip bus stops,’’ Ms Hay said.
‘‘That’s just not acceptable. That’s just ludicrous, what about the poor people waiting at the bus stop?’’
Ms Hay said she would be pushing the government ‘‘to initiate whatever is necessary to ensure driver’s safety and that the service remains available to all of those people who use it.’’
Keira MP and Shadow Minister for the Illawarra Ryan Park would also be following up the issue with the government and the TWU.
Mr Park, who saw the Gong Shuttle as an important service, was particularly concerned about drivers travelling too fast.
‘‘That’s certainly not something we want,’’ Mr Park said.
‘‘We don’t want people to be doing something unsafe, particularly when they’re carrying large numbers of people around.
‘‘Also, we don’t want a service that people can’t rely on.’’
Mr Park was the chief of staff for former Transport Minister David Campbell when the Gong Shuttle was introduced.
Mr Park said the only timetable that operated at that time was the one that aimed to have a shuttle running the loop every 10 minutes.
‘‘When it first started this was very much a wait and see project, it was the first time we’d had one of these,’’ Mr Park said.
‘‘There were some people in the Department of Transport at the time who said this would never be a success in Wollongong.’’
