Article
On Metro Cutting Services …
Media release – Metro Tasmania, 24 August 2023
Temporary Service Adjustment (Hobart)
To enhance our service reliability, we are making some changes to our services.
Starting Monday 28 August, we will be temporarily suspending a select number of our less frequented services across the Hobart network to reduce daily unexpected, cancelled trips. This will allow for greater certainty for our customers.
Please be assured that school services will remain unaffected and will continue to operate as usual.
As of Monday 28 August, our online timetables and Trip Planner tool will be updated to reflect these changes. From this date, we encourage you to rely on our online timetables and the Trip Planner tool for the most accurate and up-to-date scheduling information.
We understand that reliability is paramount to your travel plans, and we are dedicated to ensuring that your interactions with our services are as seamless as possible. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
The following trips will be temporarily suspended from Monday 28 August and will not run:
Please note: IN are services travelling in towards Hobart, OUT are services travelling out of Hobart.
Monday to Thursday Friday ONLY
Rt X07 6:25am IN Rt X07 6:25am IN
Rt 551 6:41am IN Rt 561 6:38am IN
Rt X30 6:45am IN Rt 551 6:41am IN
Rt 413 6:48am OUT Rt 530 6:43am IN
Rt 540 6:50am IN Rt X30 6:45am IN
Rt 562 6:52am IN Rt 655 6:49am OUT
Rt 601 7:07am OUT Rt 457 6:52am IN
Rt 500 7:07am IN Rt 655 7:10am IN
Rt 408 7:12am OUT Rt X20 7:11am IN
Rt X10 7:13am IN Rt X30 7:15am IN
Rt 561 7:18am IN Rt 511 7:19am OUT
Rt 685 7:20am IN Rt 501 7:22am IN
Rt 541 7:20am IN Rt 426 7:23am IN
Rt 426 7:23am IN Rt 407 7:25am IN
Rt 503 7:24am OUT Rt 457 7:26am IN
Rt 695 7:25am OUT Rt X42 7:33am IN
Rt 407 7:25am IN Rt 409 7:33am IN
Rt 409 7:33am IN Rt 684 7:34am OUT
Rt 413 7:36am IN Rt 615 7:39am OUT
Rt 601 7:37am OUT Rt X01 7:40am IN
Rt X01 7:40am IN Rt 530 7:43am OUT
Rt 503 7:42am IN Rt 695 7:49am IN
Rt 601 7:44am IN Rt 502 7:57am IN
Rt 407 7:45am IN Rt 685 8:00am IN
Rt 501 7:45am IN Rt 409 8:03am IN
Rt 601 7:58am OUT Rt X11 8:08am IN
Rt 502 7:59am OUT Rt X20 8:09am IN
Rt 409 8:03am IN Rt 502 8:12am IN
Rt 695 8:09am IN Rt 676 8:12am IN
Rt 502 8:12am IN Rt X16 8:15am IN
Rt 601 8:12am IN Rt 511 8:17am OUT
Rt 676 8:12am IN Rt 501 8:20am OUT
Rt X02 8:15am IN Rt 694 8:22am OUT
Rt 510 8:19am OUT Rt 511 8:22am IN
Rt 694 8:22am OUT Rt 684 8:29am IN
Rt 655 8:27am OUT Rt 601 8:30am OUT
Rt 503 8:30am OUT Rt 415 8:35am OUT
Rt 601 8:30am OUT Rt 541 8:45am IN
Rt 624 8:36am IN Rt 501 8:50am IN
Rt X20 8:39am IN Rt X20 8:52am OUT
Rt 503 8:46am IN Rt 530 9:12am OUT
Rt 501 8:50am IN Rt 560 9:14am IN
Rt X20 8:52am OUT Rt 511 9:18am IN
Rt 510 8:52am IN Rt 601 9:19am IN
Rt 530 9:12am OUT Rt 654 9:26am OUT
Rt 601 9:19am IN Rt 413 9:38am OUT
Rt 601 9:35am OUT Rt 655 9:40am IN
Rt 426 9:36am OUT Rt 415 9:47am IN
Rt 624 9:37am OUT Rt 501 9:55am OUT
Rt 540 9:58am OUT Rt 616 10:00am OUT
Rt X20 10:01am IN Rt X20 10:01am IN
Rt 530 10:04am IN Rt 530 10:04am IN
Rt 601 10:05am OUT Rt 601 10:05am OUT
Rt 625 10:08am IN Rt 429 10:06am OUT
Rt 510 10:11am OUT Rt 448 10:20am OUT
Rt 448 10:20am OUT Rt 615 10:28am IN
Rt 426 10:26am IN Rt 429 10:38am IN
Rt 540 10:30am IN Rt 448 10:45am IN
Rt 448 10:45am IN Rt X20 10:52am OUT
Rt 510 10:47am IN Rt 402 10:53am OUT
Rt 601 10:49am IN Rt 413 11:04am IN
Rt 562 10:50am IN Rt 401 11:06am IN
Rt 696 10:53am OUT Rt 562 11:08am OUT
Rt 503 10:57am OUT Rt 446 11:08am OUT
Rt 694 11:05am IN Rt 448 11:20am OUT
Rt 429 11:06am OUT Rt 501 11:20am IN
Rt 541 11:14am OUT Rt 503 11:27am OUT
Rt 501 11:20am IN Rt 446 11:27am IN
Rt 615 11:27am OUT Rt 401 11:33am OUT
Rt 601 11:35am OUT Rt 448 11:45am IN
Rt 429 11:38am IN Rt 541 11:45am IN
Rt 665 11:46am OUT Rt 402 11:52am IN
Rt 696 11:48am IN Rt X20 11:52am OUT
Rt 562 11:50am IN Rt 562 12:08pm OUT
Rt 616 12:00pm IN Rt 550 12:19pm OUT
Rt 601 12:19pm IN Rt 402 12:23pm OUT
Rt 664 12:22pm IN Rt 501 12:25pm OUT
Rt 503 12:27pm OUT Rt 501 12:55pm OUT
Rt 446 12:28pm OUT Rt 401 12:36pm IN
Rt 676 12:31pm OUT Rt 550 1:42pm IN
Rt 446 12:47pm IN Rt 634 12:57pm OUT
Rt 696 12:53pm OUT Rt 501 1:01pm OUT
Rt 655 12:56pm OUT Rt X20 1:01pm IN
Rt 634 12:57pm OUT Rt 401 1:03pm OUT
Rt 606 1:00pm OUT Rt 694 1:05pm IN
Rt 601 1:05pm OUT Rt 510 1:11pm OUT
Rt 654 1:10pm IN Rt 560 1:14pm IN
Rt 606 1:16pm IN Rt 402 1:22pm IN
Rt 511 1:17pm OUT Rt 510 1:47pm IN
Rt 550 1:19pm OUT Rt 634 1:47pm IN
Rt 684 1:30pm OUT Rt 501 1:55pm OUT
Rt 458 1:42pm OUT Rt 634 1:57pm OUT
Rt 503 1:46pm IN Rt 616 2:00pm OUT
Rt 634 1:47pm IN Rt 501 2:20pm IN
Rt 696 1:48pm IN Rt 448 2:20pm OUT
Rt 501 1:50pm IN Rt 402 2:23pm OUT
Rt 694 1:53pm OUT Rt 615 2:28pm IN
Rt 684 1:56pm IN Rt 401 2:36pm IN
Rt 503 1:57pm OUT Rt 540 2:38pm OUT
Rt X20 2:01pm IN Rt 448 2:45pm IN
Rt 458 2:16pm IN Rt 634 2:45pm IN
Rt 511 2:18pm IN Rt 541 2:45pm IN
Rt 624 2:37pm OUT Rt X20 2:52pm OUT
Rt 540 2:38pm OUT Rt 504 2:52pm OUT
Rt 541 2:45pm IN Rt 530 2:55pm OUT
Rt 503 2:46pm IN Rt 606 3:00pm OUT
Rt 501 2:47pm IN Rt 502 3:05pm OUT
Rt 504 2:52pm OUT Rt 562 3:08pm OUT
Rt X20 2:52pm OUT Rt 447 3:10pm OUT
Rt 694 2:53pm OUT Rt 606 3:16pm IN
Rt 606 3:00pm OUT Rt 501 3:17pm IN
Rt 625 3:07pm IN Rt 601 3:17pm IN
Rt 695 3:15pm OUT Rt 402 3:20pm OUT
Rt 606 3:16pm IN Rt 501 3:25pm OUT
Rt 409 3:19pm OUT Rt 615 3:25pm OUT
Rt 408 3:20pm OUT Rt 606 3:27pm OUT
Rt 501 3:25pm OUT Rt 502 3:28pm IN
Rt 615 3:25pm OUT Rt X13 3:30pm OUT
Rt 606 3:27pm OUT Rt 401 3:35pm IN
Rt 446 3:40pm OUT Rt 540 3:38pm OUT
Rt X16 3:40pm OUT Rt 550 3:42pm IN
Rt 550 3:42pm IN Rt 530 3:45pm IN
Rt 458 3:45pm OUT Rt 504 3:50pm IN
Rt 695 3:49pm IN Rt 654 3:50pm OUT
Rt 654 3:50pm OUT Rt 501 3:55pm OUT
Rt 407 3:57pm IN Rt 511 4:08pm IN
Rt 407 4:00pm OUT Rt 606 4:08pm OUT
Rt 446 4:03pm IN Rt 552 4:09pm OUT
Rt 615 4:16pm IN Rt 560 4:14pm IN
Rt 501 4:20pm IN Rt 655 4:20pm IN
Rt 500 4:20pm IN Rt 530 4:20pm IN
Rt 504 4:20pm OUT Rt 501 4:22pm OUT
Rt X58 4:20pm IN Rt 412 4:23pm OUT
Rt 655 4:20pm IN Rt X50 4:25pm OUT
Rt 412 4:23pm OUT Rt X07 4:30pm OUT
Rt 676 4:24pm OUT Rt 510 4:33pm OUT
Rt X50 4:25pm OUT Rt 624 4:36pm IN
Rt X07 4:30pm OUT Rt 542 4:39pm IN
Rt 408 4:31pm IN Rt X58 4:45pm OUT
Rt 504 4:36pm IN Rt 655 4:50pm IN
Rt 560 4:36pm OUT Rt 541 4:53pm OUT
Rt 624 4:36pm IN Rt 402 4:53pm OUT
Rt X42 4:47pm OUT Rt X20 4:57pm OUT
Rt 695 4:50pm OUT Rt 401 5:09pm IN
Rt 513 4:55pm OUT Rt 540 5:18pm OUT
Rt 540 4:58pm OUT Rt 501 5:22pm IN
Rt 504 5:03pm OUT Rt 448 5:22pm OUT
Rt X11 5:09pm OUT Rt X58 5:28pm OUT
Rt 510 5:15pm OUT Rt 501 5:28pm OUT
Rt 553 5:18pm OUT Rt 560 5:36pm OUT
Rt 513 5:25pm OUT Rt X13 5:40pm OUT
Rt X58 5:28pm OUT Rt 426 5:45pm OUT
Rt 407 5:29pm IN Rt X16 5:46pm OUT
Rt 446 5:34pm OUT Rt 448 5:57pm IN
Rt 695 5:37pm IN Rt X50 6:05pm OUT
Rt 542 5:39pm IN Rt 407 6:05pm OUT
Rt X13 5:40pm OUT Rt 601 6:07pm OUT
Rt 624 5:41pm OUT Rt 429 6:12pm OUT
Rt 664 5:45pm OUT Rt 530 6:15pm IN
Rt 511 5:50pm IN Rt 655 6:20pm OUT
Rt 446 5:57pm IN Rt 426 6:28pm IN
Rt 634 6:00pm OUT Rt 408 6:35pm IN
Rt 504 6:03pm OUT Rt 615 6:38pm IN
Rt 447 6:08pm OUT Rt 654 6:45pm IN
Rt 429 6:12pm OUT Rt 694 6:53pm OUT
Rt 625 6:18pm IN Rt 615 6:58pm OUT
Rt 510 6:19pm OUT Rt 624 7:15pm OUT
Rt 665 6:23pm IN Rt 615 7:30pm IN
Rt 654 6:50pm OUT Rt 542 7:35pm IN
Rt 634 6:51pm IN Rt 625 7:43pm IN
Rt 412 7:05pm OUT Rt 511 8:03pm OUT
Rt 655 7:20pm IN Rt 615 8:25pm OUT
Rt 504 7:33pm OUT Rt 511 8:41pm IN
Rt 412 7:37pm IN Rt 503 9:05pm OUT
Rt 402 7:40pm OUT Rt 615 9:08pm IN
Rt 504 7:48pm IN Rt 503 9:19pm IN
Rt 401 7:58pm IN Rt 542 9:35pm IN
Media release – Greater Hobart Mayors, 24 August 2023
Statement regarding Metro Tasmania services
“As a growing region anchored by a contemporary capital city, Greater Hobart needs a reliable, sustainable and cost effective public transport system.
The news of Metro reducing its services is a backwards step that demonstrates we’re failing to fulfil this vision.
For Greater Hobart to have a credible bus network, commuters need to have confidence in the frequency and reliability of services.
In contrast, the reduction in services will create immediate disruption and inconvenience for commuters while sending a very negative signal about the future of the network.
We need a public transport system that delivers more services, more often – not less.
Given the significant population growth projected for the Greater Hobart, this is only going to become more important in the years ahead.
The State Government must immediately address the current issues facing Metro and substantially increase its investment in public transport to deliver a network that our communities can rely on and that is safe.
It’s important to remember this is a central focus of the Hobart City Deal, which sets a KPI of increasing the number of people using public transport on their regular commute to work by 10%.”
Brendan Blomeley is the Mayor of Clarence City Council, Bec Thomas is the Mayor of Glenorchy City Council, Anna Reynolds is the Lord Mayor of the City of Hobart and Paula Wriedt is the Mayor of Kingborough Council.
Media release – Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Transport, 24 August 2023
After ten years, the wheels are falling off the Liberal bus
Confirmation today that the Liberals’ best solution to growing bus cancellations is to get rid of the services altogether is yet another sign the wheels are falling off Jeremy Rockliff’s minority Government.
After 10 years in office, the Rockliff Government is failing on almost every front.
The health system is in crisis, with rampant ramping and ridiculously long wait times at emergency departments across the state.
The housing waitlist is longer than it’s ever been as more and more Tasmanians seek shelter in the streets.
Tasmanians struggling with the cost-of-living crisis are being stretched to breaking point with unnecessarily high power bills because the Liberals broke their promise to delink from mainland electricity prices
Under the Liberals, our education results are at the bottom of the nation’s class, with the worst NAPLAN results of any state or territory in 18 of 20 categories (excluding NT).
The Liberal government has no clear direction or way out of the mess they have created, with their only plan to build an expensive stadium on Hobart’s waterfront.
Now, their best solution to the latest problem is to cut Metro services, which is not a solution at all.
What’s next? Shutting down emergency departments altogether to eliminate wait times there? Or maybe they’ll get rid of the housing waitlist?
After 10 years, it is clear the Liberals are out of ideas to fix the problems facing Tasmania.
Media release – Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), 24 August, 2023
Failure to recruit and retain bus drivers comes home to roost for Metro
The following statement can be attributed to Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Tasmanian Secretary Ric Bean:
The reduction in Metro services announced today is the inevitable result of the absolute failure of Metro management and the Tasmanian Liberal Government to address long-standing workplace concerns over safety, pay and working conditions at Metro Tasmania.
There is nothing worse in public transport than leaving passengers stranded by the side of road, waiting for a service that will never come.
But this situation has happened time and time again, right throughout the year, because Metro has failed to take the necessary steps to address the declining number of bus drivers in its ranks.
Sadly, any improvements in reliability from the new timetable will come at the expense of service frequency. Fewer services will particularly hurt young people, people on low incomes, and other disadvantaged Tasmanians who rely on public transport to get around.
The RTBU has been warning Metro since early 2021 that continuing high levels of staff turnover would eventually send the organisation into a death spiral.
Metro management have ignored workforce issues for too long, burying their heads in the sand while offering token gestures such as a $50 bonus to staff who recruited a friend. Now this failure has come home to roost in a big way.
Metro and the State Government must get moving on improvements to safety and security, such as the promised introduction of permanent Transit Officers and the roll-out of security screens.
They urgently need to tackle the lack of trust between management and drivers, so drivers feel more supported in their workplace.
With negotiations for the next Enterprise Bargaining Agreement to commence early next year, Metro will need to significantly improve pay and conditions in order to attract the level of staff that it needs.
For example, three levels of bus drivers are currently being paid at the minimum Award rate – this needs to be significantly improved.
We can only hope that today’s humiliating announcement acts a turning point for Metro and the State Government. Metro Tasmania can and must turn itself around, and be the publicly-owned bus company that all Tasmanians want it to be.