190x start point. Photo: A J Guesdon/PON
On Tuesday November 3 2026 Transport for NSW stated bus passengers travelling in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, lower North Shore and inner north-west are encouraged to plan ahead, with industrial action from Wednesday 4 November potentially impacting services across these areas.
Transport for NSW has been advised that Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) members intend to undertake industrial action that may affect the operation of bus services.
From 12.01am Wednesday 4 November, the RTBU has advised drivers may undertake industrial action involving restrictions on the operation of certain buses. Further work bans affecting buses departing depots will start from 12.01am Thursday 5 November. The actions are expected to continue indefinitely.
While buses are expected to continue operating, the industrial action may result in some services being delayed or cancelled where buses are unable to meet the requirements of the notified work bans.
'Impacts may be felt across the Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, lower North Shore and inner north-west, as well as some services that start and finish in the Sydney CBD.' Transport for NSW stated
'With the potential for longer wait times, passengers, including students sitting HSC exams this week, are encouraged to allow extra travel time, and consider travelling outside peak periods where possible.
Other transport options, including trains, ferries, light rail and roads, may also be busier than usual as passengers seek alternative travel options.
Passengers can plan ahead by checking transportnsw.info for the latest updates and downloading the Opal Travel app for real-time disruption information.
Transport for NSW will continue to work closely with the respective operators, Keolis Northern Beaches, Transdev John Holland and Busways to minimise impacts where possible, including prioritising services for school children and keep passengers informed.'
In July 2026 NSW Government committed $200 million to support improved wages for more than 8,000 bus drivers. This past week it was 'encouraging operators and unions to continue working towards an agreement that supports drivers while minimising impacts on passengers.'
''We understand these changes may be frustrating and thank passengers for their patience. Road users can download the Live Traffic NSW app, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701 for up‑to‑date traffic conditions.''
Passengers can provide feedback by calling 131 500 or visiting feedback.transportnsw.info
Local commuters report being stranded on Wednesday November 4 2026 and have been advised the same may occur this coming week.
3,000 more weekly bus services: NSW Government to 'rebuild bus network'
The same day, November 4, the NSW Government announced 'communities across NSW will benefit from 3,000 additional weekly bus services, with more frequent buses, new connections and services running later into the night as the Minns Labor Government continues to rebuild the state's bus network'.
'The service boost, commencing on 15 and 22 November, will include new 24-hour bus services, improved connections across Greater Western Sydney and more services for regional communities.' the government stated
'It will bring the total number of additional weekly bus services delivered since the Minns Labor Government came to office to 9,000.'
'Among the changes, two of Sydney's busiest bus routes, the 343 between Kingsford and Circular Quay and the 370 between Coogee and Glebe Point, will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The 418 between Sydenham and Burwood will also operate around the clock on Friday and Saturday nights, giving more people access to public transport after dark.
The additional services and timetable changes follow extensive community consultation undertaken by the Bus Industry Taskforce, which found buses had become the “forgotten mode” of transport under the former Liberal-National Government.
After years of cuts and privatisation by the former Liberal and National Government, the Minns Labor Government is investing in more frequent and reliable bus services to better meet the needs of communities across NSW.
The Government has also made progress addressing the bus driver shortage, reducing the shortfall from around 500 drivers when it came to office to around 200.' the released statement says
Scruby: Restore the 190X, Recruit More Drivers - No More Bus Cuts
Independent Member for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby MP is calling for full restoration of the 190X timetable and expanded Northern Beaches bus routes and services, but only when we have enough drivers to deliver them reliably.
Responding to reports the residents will miss out on the latest rollout of additional bus services, Ms Scruby said the biggest issue is that unlike other areas of Sydney the peninsula has a private operator running services who is failing to get bus drivers.
“No one on the Northern Beaches cares who is to blame – they want reliable buses and more of them.
“B1 cancellations are unacceptable, but our community is grateful for near zero cancellations on the 190X and I encourage people to use this service as a direct route to the city. My position remains that I want to see the full 190X timetable restored, more routes and more frequent services. But I’m also realistic – to deliver that, we need enough drivers behind the wheel,” Ms Scruby said.
“A year ago, Pittwater commuters were in the thick of the cancellation crisis. Following sustained advocacy, we now have close to zero cancellations on the 190X. That is meaningful progress, but restoring reliability on a reduced timetable is only part of the job.
“Unlike the Member for Manly who is calling for reliability, and a ‘ripping up of the timetable’ which could see a cut in services, I do not want any more services cut. I am pushing for more drivers first, then increased services second.”
“While problems remain across our network, the 190X shows improvement is possible.”
“We are dealing with the impacts of privatisation – with industrial action underway as Keolis negotiates with bus drivers.''
Ms Scruby called on Keolis to negotiate in good faith and contribute to a wage agreement that makes full use of the NSW Government’s additional funding for bus driver pay.
“Our message to Keolis and NSW Government is ‘get on with it’ and resolve industrial negotiations and recruiting so our services can also expand and be on time and deliver the 10 new b-lines with at least 2 promised before Christmas.
“Drivers are essential workers. Better pay and conditions are critical to getting our bus network working properly.”
Ms Scruby also urged Keolis to broaden its recruitment approach, including considering voluntary split-shift and part-time opportunities for people seeking additional work.
“There may be people in our community who would consider bus driving for additional income but cannot commit to a conventional full-time role. Keolis should explore flexible arrangements, including voluntary split shifts, with fair pay and conditions, to attract a wider pool of drivers.”
Ms Scruby said Keolis’ future on the Region 8 routes must depend on its ability to deliver.
“Keolis is on notice. If negotiations fail and we do not see the recruitment and retention needed to deliver our services, there will be calls for its contract not to be renewed.
Ms Scruby said residents had spent too long dealing with the consequences of the former Liberal Government’s privatised service arrangements and the failure of this Government to deliver a bus service that makes it easy to commute.
“Over the past two years, our community has seen the consequences of failed public-private arrangements. Patience is wearing thin.
“The current Government is responsible for getting this fixed. Commuters need reliable journeys now and a clear path to a fully restored and expanded timetable.
“No more excuses. Resolve the negotiations, recruit the drivers and get on with delivering the services the Northern Beaches needs.”
Griffin: Peninsula MPs Ignored as Entire Area Misses out on Labor's Bus Boost
Manly MP James Griffin pointed out on Wednesday that the Minns Labor Government had announced that the area will not be a recipient of the 3,000 additional weekly bus services being rolled out across Sydney, with various routes across Greater Western Sydney and the Eastern Suburbs receiving more than 100 additional weekly services to meet demand.
Despite repeated calls from Independent Members for Wakehurst and Pittwater, Michael Regan MP and Jacqui Scruby MP, and Liberal Member for Manly, James Griffin MP, for improvements to local bus services, the chaos continues.
'NSW Parliament’s Hansard records show that since the Minns Government came to office in 2023, Independent and Liberal MPs have collectively used Parliamentary mechanisms on 70 separate occasions to call for improvements to local bus services. That equates to more than one Parliamentary intervention every sitting week.' Mr Griffin stated
Mr Griffin said the announcement was not only a slap in the face for local commuters but also raised serious questions about how seriously the Minns Labor Government takes the Manly to Barrenjoey peninsula.
“The NSW Labor Government have been in power for nearly four years and have ignored the Independent and Liberal calls to rip up the bus contract. Instead, they have relied upon the former NSW Liberal Government’s B-Line to do all the heavy lifting for our public transport,” Mr Griffin said.
“Northern Beaches MPs have raised the issue of poor bus services in NSW Parliament on 70 separate occasions this term, made countless representations to the Minister, met with the bus operator, conducted community surveys and held public forums, but none of it mattered because the Government found funding and resources to deliver 3,000 additional weekly services across Sydney without allocating a single one to the Northern Beaches.”
In 2024, the independent Members for Warringah and Wakehurst hosted the Transport and Traffic Forum which gave the Transport Minister an opportunity to hear first-hand about the frustrations of local commuters. Two years later, residents are entitled to ask what came of it, with no meaningful improvements delivered.
In August 2026 Mr. Griffin was still calling for changes to the bus timetables with a focus on reliability. He stated then, after three years of persistent cancellations and service issues, and with the Government still unable to recruit the drivers needed to deliver the existing timetable, it was time to acknowledge that the timetable is simply not feasible.
With roughly 160 drivers currently missing from the workforce, continuing to demand a timetable that cannot be reliably delivered will only produce the same outcome: cancellations, delays, ghost buses and a workforce stretched thin.
“Commuters are rightly fed up with community forums, social media posts spruiking a constructive meeting and endless promise to raise their concerns with the Minister. They need tangible improvements to local bus services and a State Government that gives here the same priority as the rest of Sydney,” Mr Griffin said this week, Wednesday November 4
“Today's announcement confirms that regardless of whether the local Member is Independent or Liberal, the Minns Labor Government is not interested in delivering for local commuters.”
Background: Wages Need to be at a Liveable Rate
In July 2026 NSW MP for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby called out Keolis Downer to match a pay uplift announced by the Minns Government, which has stated it will invest more than $200 million in bus drivers.
The funding boost will be tied to increases in pay that will keep more bus drivers behind the wheel after years of driver shortages across Sydney and outer metropolitan areas which resulted in regular service cancellations for passengers.
The NSW Government said it expects bus operators to also contribute to the pay rise, with government funding contingent on unions and operators reaching an agreement.
The NSW Government stated it respects the right of workers to bargain, but urges all parties to avoid industrial action that unfairly disrupts commuters and the millions of people who rely on public transport to get to work, school and appointments.
See June 2026 report: Bus disruptions due to industrial action
July 2026 report: Scruby Calls out Keolis Downer: Match NSW Government's Investment in Wage Increase for Bus Drivers - end the cancellation of services
''Under the privatised model inherited from the Liberals, the NSW Government is not party to ongoing enterprise agreements between private bus operators, drivers and unions, but the funding was to be made available and will be tied directly to the wage rise outcome.'' the government stated in July
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW Branch stated then:
''The announcement of $200M for bus drivers is a big step forward in our fight for fair wages and conditions in a broken, privatised, bus system.
Not one cent of $200 million announced by the NSW Government for bus driver wages should flow into the corporate coffers of private multinational operators, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union.
The entire package must be quarantined for permanent wage increases and be fully traceable to drivers’ payslips - not swallowed by management fees, corporate overheads or other accounting tricks''.
RTBU NSW Tram and Bus Division President Peter Grech said the funding was an overdue acknowledgment low wages and poor conditions were driving experienced drivers out of the industry.
“This is a direct result of bus drivers on the northern beaches and in Newcastle standing together and taking action over wages and conditions that are driving people out of the industry,” Mr Grech said.
“This is a win for drivers but the job is not finished for us. We must make sure every cent reaches workers’ pay packets and is not siphoned off by private operators.
“These cowboy outfits will rip money out anywhere they can and the Government would be incredibly naïve to hand them another $200 million without iron-clad safeguards guaranteeing it goes directly to drivers.
“Taxpayers already hand billions of dollars to these companies to operate our public bus network. They should be assured this money will not disappear into multinational profits.
“Our bus drivers carry enormous responsibility. They work long and irregular hours, navigate congested roads and deal with everything from abuse to emergencies while safely carrying millions of passengers every week.
“There is a simple reason 90 per cent of newly trained drivers are quitting within six months: a wages and conditions crisis created by privatisation.
“The long-term solution remains bringing bus services back into public hands. Until then, every cent of public funding must improve the lives of the workers who actually keep the buses moving,” Mr Grech said.
Two Weeks Ago: The Vote by Members
On October 15 2026 the Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW Branch stated 97% of its members had voted 'yes' for all forms of industrial action and an 85% participation rate,
''RTBU members have shown they're united and serious about winning a fair Multi-Enterprise Agreement.'' the union stated
''Bus drivers across Regions 7, 8 and 9 have sent a clear message to their employers: we're ready to fight.''
''Busways, Keolis NB and Transdev John Holland Buses are now on notice.
Three regions. One united workforce. ''
Right to Vote on Strike Notices
This had been preceded by the RTBU has been representing Keolis Downer Northern Beaches drivers in the Fair Work Commission during the last month.
OnNotice, where you can find Australian Workplace News, reported on October 1 2026 that the Fair Work Commission granted the RTBU a protected action ballot at Keolis Downer Northern Beaches, leaving the standard three working days’ notice in place. Deputy President Wright found exceptional circumstances existed but that they did not justify a longer notice period.
Salaried staff at Keolis Downer Northern Beaches were set to vote on four forms of industrial action, including stoppages of between one minute and 72 hours, with voting to close on 6 October 2026, after the Fair Work Commission declined to extend the notice the union must give before action begins.
The Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union applied under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 for a protected action ballot order (the vote employees must pass before industrial action attracts legal protection). The employees to be balloted are covered by the Senior and Salaried Officers Enterprise Agreement.
In September 2026 the Commission was advised that Keolis did not object to the application, but sought that the written notice period be extended from three working days to five for the first three ballot questions, covering work performed differently, stoppages, and bans, limitations or restrictions. No extra notice was sought for the fourth question, which covers periodic interruptions to work to wear, display or distribute campaign material.
Keolis Downer submitted
that the Northern Beaches has no train service and that it is the only bus operator running trips specifically from the Pittwater and Barrenjoey Road corridor to the city, Chatswood and Manly. Its general manager gave evidence that Opal tap data showed an average of 123,599 taps on any weekday excluding weekends and public holidays, and that tap-on data indicated the operator carried on average 24,235 people to the city, 8,650 to Chatswood and 5,413 to Manly. Bans or limitations on on-road, operational control and daily duty officer functions would leave a workforce of about 750 bus drivers, covered by a different agreement, without on-road support, and five days would allow the operator to work with the community, Transport for NSW and other providers.
The RTBU submitted
that it opposed the request for extended notice periods.
Fair Work Commission Deputy President Wright foundthat Keolis provides an essential public transport service, that action may result in cancelled bus services because drivers cannot operate without depot and office based staff, and that, with the limited public transport options and relative isolation of the Northern Beaches, there were exceptional circumstances. She was not satisfied those circumstances justified a longer notice period.
On mitigation, the operator pointed to engaging replacement staff and, if that could not be done, cancelling bus services and telling the public.
The decision records that Keolis “was unable to explain why these actions could not be undertaken with three days notice and why five days is required”.
Sourced document: [2026] FWC 3628
Overpayments still being taken from wages: Stress impacting drivers
In early 2024, reports came in from impacted people that Keolis Downer Northern Beaches was seeking drivers to return overpaid wages, in some instances, up to thousands of dollars.
See April 2024 report: Keolis Downer Northern Beaches Having Payroll Problems: is a 'living wage' leaving people struggling or homeless as large companies seek to expand profits?
As of early October 2026, the number of Keolis Downer Northern Beaches employees still in dispute over alleged payroll overpayments is still in the mid to high 200s.
Fair Work Commission Deputy President Cross recorded that since the contract began there had been “a multitude of issues” with the company’s payroll system, leaving some employees underpaid and others overpaid. The company then moved to recover the overpayments.
Keolis Downer engaged debt collectors on July 11 2024, and so the RTBU sought injunctive relief in the Federal Court. Those proceedings resolved, and debt collection stopped, on the basis that the parties entered a heads of agreement dated 24 July 2024, together with a deed, establishing a three-step process: 1; meetings between management and the union, to finish within 28 days; 2; individual meetings offered to union members who had not agreed to repay, to occur within a 60-day period; and 3; arbitration before Deputy President Cross. Under the agreement, if an individual debt is proven to the Commission’s satisfaction, the arbitrator is empowered to make orders for repayment of the debt.
Orders made in March 2025 required the company to give each relevant employee marked-up payslips and timesheets covering the relevant periods, evidence of any repayment of debts, and leave records.
Steps 1 and 2, both parties agreed, had been completed by October 2025. However Keolis had not and has not proceeded to Step 3.
Keolis Downer submitted
.. that there is no timeline for progression to Step 3. It said it had been “preparing to commence Step 3” since Step 2 concluded, and that “it would be irresponsible for business to commence at arbitration on an individual basis without ensuring that it had the evidence to support its case”.
Deputy President Cross found
that the company had complied with the terms of the settlement agreement, noting that, unlike Steps 1 and 2, no timeline is expressed in the agreement for Step 3. Questions 2 and 3, on whether the company was barred from enforcing the debts and whether the application should be dismissed, did not arise.
He added that the argument that the company’s excessive delay in starting Step 3 could support a finding it had abandoned its rights to pursue that step, in relation to some or all employees, carried “considerable force”.
“While I do not consider it appropriate at this stage to exercise the discretion to strike out any claims, any further significant delay may produce a different result were a further application pursued.” - Deputy President Cross
Sourced document: [2026] FWC 3803
Below is the Transport for NSW map for areas that will be impacted this time:
More in a few of these earlier reports:
See February 2023 report: Cancellation of Bus Services continues to impact local commuters - students: drives residents to take to their cars again, residents state this will be reflected in how they vote in the 2023 state election
See April 2023 report: Millions Left Stranded By Cancelled Bus Services: New Labor Government Transport Minister Delves Into Privatisation Contracts - finds companies make more by leaving you on the side of the road
See April 2024 report: Keolis Downer Northern Beaches Having Payroll Problems: is a 'living wage' leaving people struggling or homeless as large companies seek to expand profits?
See April 2026 report: Kiwis recruited for Local bus driver drought: Scruby eyes 2030 contract renewal
See June 2026 report: Bus disruptions due to industrial action
July 2026 report (with prior strike map0: Scruby Calls out Keolis Downer: Match NSW Government's Investment in Wage Increase for Bus Drivers - end the cancellation of services
B-Line from Mona Vale