City Transport

City Transport

Sydney's public transport network is quite good, though the system relies heavily on buses and traffic jams can be a problem. As small as the inner city is, you'll need to use public transport to get around comfortably, especially on summer days when it's too hot to walk far. There are buses, trains, ferries, a light rail system and the city monorail to choose from, plus plenty of licensed taxis. You can flag them down if they are vacant (the roof-top light is lit if the cab is empty). After the regular buses and trains finish around midnight, there's a good network of night buses that will get you around the city centre and to most of the surrounding suburbs (a handy one is route #333, which does the Kings Cross - Town Hall - The Rocks nightlife trail Thurs - Sat midnight - 5am). For public transport information, routes and timetables TEL 13 1500 daily 6am - 10pm.

Buses

Within the central area, buses are much the most convenient and widespread mode of transport, and in general they cover more of the city than the trains. Buses must be hailed from yellow-signed bus stops. With few exceptions buses radiate from the centre: major interchanges are located at Railway Square near Central Station, especially for the southwest routes; at Circular Quay for a range of routes; from York and Carrington streets outside Wynyard Station for the North Shore; and Bondi Junction Station for the Eastern Suburbs and beaches. The only west-east bus route is the Metroline #440, which goes from Burwood through to Bondi Junction via the airport.

Tickets, costing from AU$ 1.20 to AU$ 4.60 according to the distance travelled, can be bought on board from the driver, but if you're going to use the bus network more than occasionally, substantial discounts are available with TravelTen tickets costing AU$ 8.40 per week and giving you 45 percent saving on your fair.

You can get bus information, timetable and passes from two handy booths: at Carrington Street, Wynyard (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9am-2pm), and at Circular Quay on the corner of Loftus and Alfred streets (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat & Sun 9am-2pm).

Trains
Trains will get you where you're going faster than buses, especially at rush hour and when heading out to the suburbs, but you need to transfer to a bus or ferry to get to most harbourside or beach destinations, and services are mainly aimed at commuters. There are five train lines, each of which stops at Central and Town Hall Stations. The underground City Loop is very useful, linking Central Station, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St. James and Museum and allowing you to connect with the rail system from almost anywhere in the centre. The only other underground route running from Bondi Junction, through Edgecliff, Kings Cross, Martin Place, Town Hall, Central and Redfern, then overland to the beach at Cronulla, is handy for tourists.

Trains run from around 5am to midnight, with tickets starting at around AU$ 1.60 on the City Loop and for short hops; you can save money by buying off-peak returns after 9am and all weekend. For AU$ 9.00 you can get a weekly pass for unlimited use of the trains around the city (well worth considering). Automatic ticket machines (which give change) and barriers have been introduced just about everywhere. No excuses will be accepted if you don't have a ticket and fines are high so be warned!

It's worth mentioning, following several incidents on late evening trains, all platforms have been painted with designated "nightsafe" waiting areas and all but two or three train carriages are closed after about 8pm, creating a cattle-like safety in numbers. At other times, if the train is deserted, sit in the carriage nearest the guard, marked by a blue light. Remember, if in doubt, take a taxi.

Monorail

The Monorail is still a controversial addition to the transport network, especially as it's essentially a tourist shuttle designed to loop around the Darling Harbour, connecting it with the city centre. Personally, I love it. It's a great way to see the city. and as long as you stay on, you can go around as many times as you like (although you're not supposed to). It's also a nice way to understand a bit about the layout of the shopping areas and to get your bearings. There are seven stops in all and a circuit take about 10 minutes. Tickets cost AU$ 2.50 available at ticket machines at the stations. Open daily: Sun-Thurs 7:30am-9pm Fri & Sat 7:30am-11pm.

Light Rail

Trams have not operated in Sydney since 1961, but Sydney Light Rail Company (SLRC) - a light rail system funded jointly by the state government and by private backers - is seen as an answer to Sydney's traffic congestion. The first route, from Central station to the Pyrmont peninsula, should be operating now and there are plans to extend it to Circular Quay in one direction and Leichhardt in the other. There is also the possibility of a separate light rail line being built right to the beach at Bondi; if this goes ahead, it should be ready in time for the 2000 Olympics.

The Ultimo-Pyrmont Light Rail Transit System (UPLRT) links Central Station with Sydney Casino, Chinatown, Darling Harbour and the fish markets at Pyrmont, with ten stops in between.

The air-conditioned light rail vehicles can carry two hundred passengers, and are fully accessible to disabled commuters and people with prams. Services are planned to operate at five-minute intervals during peak periods on weekdays and weekends and at eleven-minute intervals at other times. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines by the stops, as well as off-site. For more information, call public transport on 13 1500 (daily 6am-10pm) or contact the Department of Transport on 02 9268 2800