Labor is urging the NSW Government to make replacement bus services for the Inner  West Light Rail free so passengers do not have to pay for the inconvenience caused by the Government’s poor transport procurement policies.
 
The Transport Minister and senior officials have said that STA buses will replace the 12 trams of the Inner West Light Rail fleet that are now unusable because they have all developed serious cracking.
 
Journeys taken via replacement buses are expected to take almost twice as long as the original trams on the line which is used by workers at major employment hubs including Pyrmont, the Fish Markets and Haymarket, as well as by thousands of school students, including many year 12s who will begin their HSC exams from this Tuesday.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said: “The Government can’t expect the thousands of Inner West Light Rail passengers to pay for the inconvenience of taking an inferior service that will double their travel times.
 
“The least the Government can do for passengers after buying 12 defective trams from overseas that have shut down this service for a year and a half is to make the replacement bus services free”