Strath Transit passengers will soon have a safer, more reliable journey with a new bus for the popular service between Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye.
Minister for Public Transport and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, officially handed over the keys to operator Jamie Whitmore at Bendigo Station bus interchange today.
The new vehicle will replace the current one, which is old and becoming increasingly unreliable.
The Strath Transit service (Route 16) runs between Bendigo and the fast-growing suburb of Strathfieldsaye in Bendigo’s south east, servicing Bendigo Station, the Mall, La Trobe University and Strath Village Shopping Centre.
The new bus is a low-floor, accessible vehicle that is easy to board, especially for people with a disability or those with prams or shopping jeeps. It seats 45 passengers and has air conditioning to give passengers a comfortable journey when it’s hot.
The new bus was funded through Public Transport Victoria’s bus replacement program, which replaces older vehicles that have reached the end of their life.
As the new bus begins operating on Route 16, the old bus will be kept as a back-up vehicle, to provide extra capacity when required.
Consultation on further bus network improvements in Bendigo will take place in the coming months.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan
“Strathfieldsaye is a growing part of Bendigo that needs a new bus, and that’s what the Andrews Labor Government is delivering.”
“The new bus will provide a safer, more reliable journey for the more than 100 people that use the Strath Transit service every weekday.”
“The Andrews Labor Government is investing in the basics like better buses, and in the major public transport improvements for the future like Bendigo Metro.”
Quotes attributable to Director of Strath Transit, Jamie Whitmore
“It’s fantastic to have a new bus to provide a better service to our customers.”
“This will set up Strath Transit for years to come, so our service can grow as patronage and the local community does.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020