B-Line (Sydney)
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| B1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Overview | |
| Operator | Keolis Downer Northern Beaches |
| Garage | Mona Vale |
| Vehicle | Gemilang Coachworks bodied MAN A95s |
| Began service | 26 November 2017 |
| Predecessors | 190 |
| Former operator | State Transit |
| Night-time | BN1 |
| Route | |
| Locale | Sydney, Australia |
| Start | Mona Vale |
| Via | Warriewood Narrabeen Collaroy Dee Why Brookvale Manly Vale Spit Junction Neutral Bay |
| End | Wynyard Park |
| Length | 31 kilometres (19 mi) |
| Stops | 10 |
| Service | |
| Level | Daily |
| Frequency | 3-4 minutes (peak) 7-10 minutes (off-peak) 30 minutes (night) |
| Journey time | 65 minutes |
| Annual patronage | 5.9 million (2018) |
| Timetable | Transport for NSW |
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The B-Line is a high-frequency bus route operated by Keolis Downer Northern Beaches between Wynyard Station in Sydney's central business district and the Northern Beaches region. It is a part of the Sydney suburban bus network.
In November 2015, Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) announced the construction of a 27 kilometre bus rapid transit network between Newport on the Northern Beaches and the Sydney central business district. It began operating on 26 November 2017 as route B1 between Mona Vale and Wynyard Park. A planned extension to Newport was later cancelled following opposition from local residents with concerns that improved public transport infrastructure would be used to justify new high density housing developments.[1][2][3] The route is operated by double deck buses.[4][5][6]
Route B1 services stop at nine B-Line stops at Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why, Brookvale, Manly Vale, Spit Junction and Neutral Bay. Commuter car parks have been built at Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Dee Why, Brookvale and Manly Vale.[4][5][7]
The B-Line is operated by Keolis Downer Northern Beaches's Mona Vale depot as part of Region 8.[8]
Buses on the B-Line trial Mobileye, a new forward-facing collision avoidance technology system which has been developed by Intel.[9]
In the first year of operation to November 2018, 5.9 million passengers were carried.[10]
On 20 December 2020, the B-Line commenced operating 24-hours a day, extended between midnight and 5am to the Queen Victoria Building as route BN1.[11][12] In October 2021 it was included in the takeover of region 8 by Keolis Downer Northern Beaches.[13]
Due to a shortage of drivers, severe cancellations and wait times are commonplace on the route.[14]
Concerns have been raised about wear and tear on buses serving the route, most of which are travelling over 100,000 km annually.[15] It was later announced in March 2025 that there will be additional 10 buses to be added in the fleet to address these concerns.[16] The new fleet will expect to be delivered by mid-2026.[17]
Changes to Northern Beaches bus network
When the B-line opened, there were various changes to the bus network on the Northern Beaches.[18][19] The more significant changes were:
- Discontinuation of 23 routes such as E84, E86, E87, E88, L84, L85, L87, L88, 130, 140, 153, 179, 187 and 190
- Introduction of 4 new routes in addition to route B1
- Reduction of service times and frequency to L90
- Extension of M30 from Spit Junction to Taronga Zoo, replacing daytime route 247 services
- Renumbering non-discontinued L routes to E routes
Vehicles
To operate the B-Line, 38 Gemilang Coachworks bodied MAN A95s were purchased.[20][21] 4 additional vehicles have since been added to the fleet, making up a total of 42 double decker vehicles utilised for the service. They have audio/video systems on board that announce the next stops, along with connections and places of interest at the stop. The buses have free double USB charging points per pair of seats. Painted in a dedicated yellow and blue livery, these are the first double deck buses to be operated by a NSW government operator since the Urban Transit Authority withdrew its last Leyland Atlanteans in 1986.[22]
