Timetable Changes to Lane Cove Buses – Lane Cove Commuters Not Consulted

You may have recently seen a media announcement about changes to Sydney Buses, which began on 21 June 2026.  Commuters (and ITC) checked the information regarding North Shore, and it did not appear to affect the buses serving Lane Cove.

It was not until some commuters noticed signs at bus stops that Lane Cove commuters realised changes were being made to buses serving the area.

Early morning, 253 commuters who go directly into the CBD noted that Transport for NSW had merged the two earliest buses, 6.05 am and 6.35 am

Transport for NSW quietly merged the two earliest morning services into a single 6.25 am departure, citing low patronage. But commuters who contacted In the Cove told us the bus usually has around 10–15 passengers.

The official timetable announcement noted changes to dozens of routes across the North Shore and Northern Beaches, but Route 253 was not among them.

The changes were, in fact,  grouped in a catch-all row for the North West and Hills District.

In the North West and Hills district page, routes 251, 252, 261 and 536 are all listed as having timetable changes.  It is up to the commuter to review the timetable to see which service has been removed.  Interestingly, Transport for NSW notes some routes will have more services and expanded operating hours.  It does not appear to be the case for the buses referred to above.

A Transport for NSW Spokesperson told ITC:

“Transport for NSW is investing significantly in bus services across Sydney and continuing to expand and refine the network.

Since April 2023 more than 3,200 additional weekly bus services have been added to the Greater Sydney bus network.

The changes introduced on 21 June 2026 are designed to better align services with demand, improve reliability, and deliver better outcomes for the majority of passengers, while maintaining alternative travel options across the network.

As part of these changes, some services on the North Shore were adjusted following detailed analysis of travel patterns, patronage data and on-time running performance.

The timetable for bus route 253 was revised to better match passenger demand across the morning and afternoon peak periods. These changes ensure sufficient capacity during the busiest times while maintaining convenient travel options for most passengers. To better align service with demand, the 6.05 am and 6.35 am trips – both of which had relatively lower patronage – were combined into a single 6.25 am service.

While Transport understands any service change can impact passengers, alternative nearby services remain available for early morning travel, and we encourage passengers to plan their journey using Trip Planner to identify the best available options.”

On Lane Cove Chat by ITC members have been discussing the changes.  In particular, what are the alternative nearby services to arrive in the city by 6.45 am?

If Lane Cove commuters had buses that connected with the Metro timetable, then locals would arrive in the CBD by 6.45 am.

However, Riverview residents rely on the 254 to reach the metro, and the earliest 254 bus is at 6.27 am which arrives at the Crows Nest Metro at 6.44 am.

If commuters walk up to the Lane Cove Village from Riverview, they could catch the 6.04 am bus to the metro.  This is not an option for commuters with mobility issues.  It also means a lengthy journey to work, by foot, bus and metro.

Let us know what impact the recent changes have had on your commuter journey.